Latest IAF choppers inducted in Barrackpore

The fire at the Nandigram Marketin Burrabazar may not have blazed for nearly a week and many more lives could have been saved at the AMRI Hospital in Dhakuria had the Mi-17 V5 choppers - among the latest aircraft to be acquired by the Indian Air Force - been inducted at Barrackpore air force base earlier. The choppers, the first of which was ceremoniously inducted by Air Marshal S Varthaman, AOC-in-C, Eastern Air Command, on Friday, is the first helicopter in the country to be fitted-with a Bambi bucket fire fighting system.

""These could have been very effective in controlling the blaze that occurred in Kolkata recently. A large bucket can be suspended below the aircraft. This can pick up nearly three and a half tonnes of water and drop them on a fire. These helicopters can be used for civilian purposes. They are fitted with loud hailers and powerful search lights that cane be used for effective crowd control during disaster relief operations,"" said Air Marshal Varthaman.

While an open blaze can be completely douzed with the large amounts of water that the choppers can carry, in fires like the one at AMRI, the water can help to cool down the building substantially and aid in normal firefighting.

The choppers of the newly set-up 157 Helicopter Unit can also be used to ferry personnel of central police forces for anti-Maoist operations. With their added endurance and special features, they will also come in handy during flood relief operations. In the past, choppers had to be brought in from elsewhere for flood-relief operations in the state.

According to Varthaman, 30 of the helicopters will be inducted at three air bases under the Eastern Air Command. Barrackpore will get its full squadron of helicopters by the end of this year. ""The IAF has ordered 80 of these helicopters from Russia. Though of Russian-make, the avionics inside are western. There is a weather radar on board that allows the aircraft to operate in all weather conditions in any terrain. These choppers are also the first in the country to be equipped with Generation III Night Vision Goggles. This allows them to fly in pitch dark conditions,"" the AOC-in-C said.

Its superior equipment and weapons will also make the helicopters very effective for Special Forces operations in the North East. Their greater maneuverability and ability to fly at high altitudes will allow them to operate in Sikkim and other mountainous regions.

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(Source of Image: / precise3dmodeling.com / Mi-17V5/)

Mi-17V5 : Taking Action / A 2008 Deal…

• The Indian Air Force has put into service the first batch of 80 Mi-17V5 tactical transport helicopters under a $1.3 billion deal, Russian state-controlled arms exporter Rosoboronexport said.
• Under the 2008 deal, India has already taken delivery of about 20 Russian helicopters, built by the Kazan Helicopter Plant. The remaining helicopters are to be delivered and adopted for service in 2014. / Mi-17V5 /
• The Mi-17V5, a utility helicopter, can carry up to 36 passengers or four tons or cargo.
• India is one of the world’s largest Mi-8 and Mi-17 operators with over 200 aircraft in service. The Mi-8/17 family is the most widely produced helicopter design in history, with over 11,000 sold to more than 110 countries.  / Mi-17V5 /

NATO Reporting Name: “Hip” / Mi-17V5…

• The Mil Mi-17 (also known as the Mi-8M series in Russian service, NATO reporting name “Hip”) is a Russian helicopter currently in production at two factories in Kazan and Ulan-Ude. Mil Mi-8/17 is a medium twin-turbine transport helicopter that can also act as a gunship. / Mi-17V5 /

Mi-17V5 Development…

• Developed from the basic Mi-8 airframe, the Mi-17 was fitted with the larger TV3-117MT engines, rotors, and transmission developed for the Mi-14, along with fuselage improvements for heavier loads. Optional engines for ‘hot and high’ conditions are the 1545 kW (2070 shp) Isotov TV3-117VM. Recent exports to China and Venezuela for use in high mountains have the new VK-2500 version of the engine with FADEC control. / Mi-17V5 /
• The designation Mi-17 is for export; Russian armed forces call it Mi-8MT. The Mi-17 can be recognized because it has the tail rotor on the port side instead of the starboard side, and dust shields in front of the engine intakes. Engine cowls are shorter than on the TV2 powered Mi-8, not extending as far over the cockpit, and an opening for bleed-valve outlet is present forward of the exhaust.
• Actual model numbers vary by builder, engine type, and other options. As an example, the sixteen new Ulan Ude built machines delivered to the Czech Air Force in 2005 with –VM model engines were designated as Mi-171Sh, a development of the Mi-8AMTSh. Modifications include a new large door on the right side, improved Czech-built APU, Kevlar armor plates around the cockpit area and engines. Eight have a loading ramp in place of the usual clamshell doors, and will load a vehicle up to the size of an SUV. / Mi-17V5 /
• In May 2008 licensed production of the Mi-17 started in China, with production being led by Mil Moscow Helicopter Plant JSC and the Sichuan Lantian Helicopter Company Limited in Chengdu, Sichuan province. The plant built 20 helicopters in 2008, using Russian Ulan-Ude-supplied kits; production is expected to reach 80 helicopters per year eventually. The variants to be built by Lantian will include Mi-171, Mi-17V5, and Mi-17V7. / Mi-17V5 /

Mi-17V5: General Characteristics…

• Mi-17V5: Crew: Three – two pilots and one engineer

• Capacity: 30 troops or 12 stretchers or 4,000 kg (8,820 lb) cargo internally /5,000 kg (11,023 lb) externally slung.
• Length: 18.465 m (60 ft 7 in)
• Rotor diameter: 21.25 m (69 ft 10½ in)
• Height: 4.76 m (15 ft 7¼ in)
• Disc area: 356 m² (3,834 ft²)
• Empty weight: 7,489 kg (16,510 lb)
• Loaded weight: 11,100 kg (24,470 lb)
• Max. takeoff weight: 13,000 kg (28,660 lb)
• Power: 2 × Klimov TV3-117VM turboshafts, 1,633 kW (2,190 shp) each

Mi-17V5: Performance…

• Maximum speed: 250 km/h (135 knots, 155 mph)
• Range: 465 km (251 nmi, 289 mi) (standard fuel)
• Service ceiling: 6,000 m (19,690 ft)
• Rate of climb: 8 m/s[citation needed] (1,575 ft/min)

Mi-17V5:  Armament…

• Up to 1,500 kg (3,300 lb) of disposable stores on six hardpoints, including bombs, rockets, and gunpods. /Mi-17V5 /

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