Thaindian News

New Delhi, Feb 6 (IANS) In 10 days from now, India will formally induct the latest Russian military helicopters, Mi-17V5, into its service when Defence Minister A.K. Antony hands over the keys to the Indian Air Force.

India bought 80 of these choppers from Russia in 2008 for $1.34 billion, and the first lot of 21 of these helicopters has been delivered to the IAF since October last year. Six more of these choppers will join the fleet by end of March.

The IAF will use these helicopters for troops movement, special forces heli-borne operations, supplies, search and rescue, and casualty evacuation.

“The formal induction of the Mi-17V5 will take place at Hindon Air Base in Ghaziabad near here on Feb 17,” an IAF officer told IANS here Monday.

Once all the 80 helicopters are delivered by 2014, India may place an order for 59 more of these choppers at a cost of $1 billion.

Even as the defence ministry inducts these advanced military transport helicopters, the the home ministry too has decided to buy six of these for logistics in Maoist-affected districts of the country.

The IAF plans to base the first lot of these choppers at its Bhatinda base in Punjab and in Srinagar base in Jammu and Kashmir.

The Mi-17V5 is designed for cargo lift weighing about five tonnes, but can also carry 36 troopers. The helicopter has advanced multi-function cockpit display and upgraded engines.

The two engines of Mi-17V5 generate 2,200 horse power, about 300 hp more than the Mi-17IV variant. The upgraded engines can be started without much hassle by pilots at high altitude areas of over 6,000 metres or 21,000 feet.