IAF to induct first batch of Russian choppers by mid-October

[SpArK]

IAF to induct first batch of Russian choppers by mid-October


2 Oct, 2011, 1706 hrs IST, PTI
NEW DELHI: Augmenting its chopper fleet, the Indian Air Force will induct the first batch of Russian-origin Mi-17 V5 helicopters by mid-October.

India had in 2008 signed a deal with Russia to induct 80 Mi-17 V5 helicopters for strengthening its chopper fleet for humanitarian and disaster relief missions and transport operations.

"We are going to induct the first batch of Mi-17 V5s from Russia by the second week of the month, and by March next year we will have 26 of them," an IAF official said.

They said one of the first few helicopters would be sent to the northeast sector and will be deployed at the Bagdogra air base under the 156 helicopter Unit.

The compliment of all 80 helicopters is likely to be inducted by late 2013 or early 2014, IAF sources said.

The IAF is also looking to induct another 59 such choppers to replace the older Mi-17 variants and the Mi-8 choppers.

The IAF chopper fleet has also been augmented by the induction of around 19 Mi-17 IVs which were operating in the UN missions in Congo and Sudan.

"These missions have been closed and the choppers flown back from there have been provided to units located in central and eastern parts of the country," they said.

The Mi-35 attack helicopters, which were also part of the UN operations, have been deployed in the desert sector and an attack helicopter squadron has been revived at the Suratgarh air base.

The IAF has plans of procuring over 230 helicopters including heavy, medium and light utility and attack choppers.

It has also placed orders for procuring 12 VVIP helicopters for ferrying the President, Prime Minister and other important dignitaries in the country.

IAF to induct first batch of Russian choppers by mid-October-Politics/Nation-News-The Economic Times on Mobile

 

[Ammyy]

Instead of direct purchase we should demand some thing like JV or issue tender for the same

Cause we need these choppers in large number and i dnt think any country want to miss this

 

[angeldemon_007]

^^^
There's a indian program called IMRH. In that we shortlisted Mil and Eurocopter to build a 12ton category chopper in JV. The demands are speculated to be around 400 such choppers. But right now project is nowhere because after selection of these 2, armed forces changed their requirement and project was cancelled and it was again started but right now HAL is thinking of building it on their own but MOD is looking into it as everyone is more interested in JV but i think they are taking there time.

 

[Alchemy]

Any further military deal with Russia should be a Joint venture and not outright purchase !

 

[Birbal]

Any further military deal with Russia should be a Joint venture and not outright purchase !

This is what I don't understand. The Russians are eager to make joint ventures, but India is more keen on outright purchases. Just look at how long it took before India finally signed on to the PAK FA/FGFA project.

This type of purchaser dependence even goes back to the Mig-29 purchase, when India decided to get fully produced Mig-29s from the USSR rather than manufacture them indigenously as the USSR was offering. Then the USSR collapsed, and India had a massive spares problem.

 

[Major Shaitan Singh]

VIP Transportation

Specifications

•KEY DATA
•Crew Three (Pilot, Navigator, Flight Mechanic)
•Equipped troops 24
•Passengers 36
•Stretchers 12
DESIGN

•Designer Mil Design Bureau
•Kazan Helicopter Plant JSC


DIMENSIONS

•Fuselage length (without rotors) 18.22m
•Height (without rotors) 5.70m
•Fuselage width (without rotors) 2.50m
•Main rotor blades 5
•Tail rotor blades 3

WEIGHTS

Empty

•Mi-17V5: 7,340kg
•Normal take-off
•Mi-17V5: 13,000kg
•Max take-off
•Mi-17V5: 13,000kg
•Max internal payload 4,000kg
•Max external payload on sling
•3,000kg (Mi-17/171), or 3,000~5,000kg (Mi-17V5/V7)

PROPULSION

Powerplant

•Mi-17V5: 2X TV3-117VM(A), 2,200hp each


PERFORMANCE

•Max speed 215km/h (normal poayload); 250km/h (max payload)
•Cruising speed 215km/h (normal poayload); 230km/h (max payload)
•Service ceiling 6,000m (normal poayload); 4,800m (max payload),
•Hover ceiling (in ground effect) 3,980m (normal payload); 1,700m (max payload)

Max range

•600km (main tank only)
•800km (with one internal tank)
•1,160km (with two internal tanks)
•1,720km (with four internal tanks)


ARMAMENTS

•Fixed weapon None
External hardpoints Six

•Air-to-ground weapons 12.7mm machine gun pod; 57/90mm rocket launcher
•Air-to-air missile TY-90
The Mi-17 helicopter, developed at the Mil Design Bureau. The designation Mi-17 is for export; the Russian armed forces called it Mi-8MT. The Mi-17 Helicopter is a medium weight, single rotor helicopter. The aircraft construction primarily incorporates the airframe of a Mi-8 with the power train of the Mi-24, which provides an increase in performance and gross weight over the basic Mi-8. The aircraft is configured with a five bladed main rotor system (70 ft diameter), and a wheeled landing gear.

The MI-17 is a multirole helicopter used to resupply CLF guerrillas or insert PSOC detachments. It can also be very heavily armed with an extensive array or rockets, misslies and guns. It is often used to air assault infantry forces to attack the point of penetration, reinforce units in contact or disrupt counterattacks. Additional missions include; attack, direct air support, electronic warfare, airborne early warning, medevac, search and rescue, and minelaying.

It is an improved development of the Mi-8. The airframe structure, transport capabilities and equipment are essentially identical with those of the Mi-8. There are some features which make it different from the Mi-8 – engine intakes have deflectors to separate solid particles in the air (sand, dust etc.) and prevent them from ingestion. The Mi-17 can be recognized because it has the tail rotor at the starboard side, instead of the port side. The Mi-17 added a number of improvements to its predecessor, including a vibration damper to increase comfort for crew members and passengers. It is equipped with an outstanding navigation and information system and state-of-the-art communication devices, which permit safe transportation of passengers even in very adverse weather conditions by day or night. The helicopter features a high thrust-to-weight ratio pair of TVZ-117MT or TVZ-117VM shaft-turbine engines with a takeoff power of 1,900 hp. The Mi-17 is capable of single-engine flight in the event of loss of power by one engine (depending on aircraft mission weight) because of an engine load sharing system. If one engine fails, the other engine’s output is automatically increased to allow continued flight.

The basic version of the Mi-17 is used for military, police and civilian purposes. It is equipped with efficient self-defence means including IR jammer. The cockpit accommodates a crew of three. The cargo hold is 5.34 m long, 2.32 m wide and 1.8 m high. There is a large sliding door forward on the portside, and a clamshell freight-loading door in the rear. The landing gear is a non-retractable tricycle type with twin-wheel nose unit. On each side of the fuselage there is a pylon for an external fuel tank with a total capacity of 1830 litres both.

The Mi-17 is capable of carrying cargoes in the cabin (including long cargo) with half-open or removed doors, external loads, or passengers (24 people). The Mi-17 can carry up to 30 troops and up to 20 wounded; it can also be used for in-flight unloading of special cargoes. The transport version of the MI-17 helicopter is intended to carry cargoes (loads) in the cargo compartment, including long-size cargo with partially- opened or removed cargo doors, external loads, or executives (up to 24 persons). Interior seats are removable for cargo carrying. The rear clamshell doors open, an internal winch facilitates loading of heavy freight. Floor has tiedown rings throughout. The aircraft carries a rescue hoist capable to 150 kg.

External stores are mounted on weapons racks on each side of the fuselage. The Mi-17 has six external hardpoints. The Mi-17 is provided with missiles, bombs, small arms and cannons. It carries four missile launchers of the B8V20 type, with missiles launched with the aid of an on-board PUS-31-71 electrical fire control system. The BDZ-57KRVM bomb carrier is used for the attachment of bombs up to 500kg. Not all vailable munitions are employed at one time, mission dictates weapon configuration. The helicopter carries four UPK-23-250 gun containers with GSh-23L 23mm guns and pivoted mounts (eight units). The forward and aft hemispheres are protected by PKT machine-guns with independent power supply and remote control circuits.

The helicopter may be provided with longrange communication equipment and a radar, and it can carry equipment with phased-array antennas for suppression of enemy electronic attack and air defence facilities, such as airborne radars, air defence (artillery) weapons control radars, surveillance and target detection radars and missile radar homing heads. The ECM equipment can work both in the reconnaissance and ECM modes or in the reconnaissance mode

 

[Alchemy]

I agree with you .

There could be certain other factors which also influence these matters like
a)India might have wanted on those occasions readily available defense equipment's rather than go in for development of new projects as they might have needed them quicker
b)HAL , NAL and other government facilities could be totally occupied with other defense equipment productions that restricting options for India to produce them locally
However next gen products like FGFA , Brahmos and many many others could be taken up as JVs and restrict buying them off the shelves from Russia !