India has a large fleet of Mi-17V-5 helicopters which are often used to ferry VIPs.
New Delhi:
After the crash of one of these choppers in Tamil Nadu, several former army officers told NDTV that the Mi-17V-5 helicopters are extremely reliable and workhorses of the Air Force, including Chief of Defense Staff Bipin Rawat and several members of his family. Are included. , The accident surprised experts, who said the Sulur to Wellington flight did not have complications.
Four people died and four others who survived have been taken to the hospital. It is believed that 14 people, including the helicopter’s crew and passengers, were on board.
The Indian Air Force has already ordered an inquiry into the accident.
The Mi-17V-5 is the latest twin-engined iteration of the Russian-made Mi-17 transport helicopter and is regularly used for high-altitude operations. One of the most advanced military transports that can be used in any topography and weather, it is one of the most powerful helicopters used by the Indian Defense Forces.
India has a large fleet of these helicopters, which were procured and inducted between 2013 and 2018.
Most experts who spoke to NDTV described it as a “very reliable, safe, stable and large” helicopter, which is also used to ferry VIPs including the President and the Prime Minister.
According to information available on the website of Rosoboronexport – the Russian arms supplier – the helicopter is designed to “carry personnel, cargo and equipment inside the cargo cabin or on an external sling, release tactical air assault forces and reconnaissance and sabotage groups”. Destroy ground targets and take away the wounded”.
“Its armament system includes unguided rockets (80S-8 80 mm unguided aerial rockets), cannon (23 mm cannon and suspended pods with 250 rounds each) and small arms,” the website states. “
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