Modified Mi-17s to ferry VVIPs

Vijay Mohan

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, August 24

The country’s top leaders now have new helicopters to ferry them. The Indian Air Force has modified several of its newly acquired Russia-made Mi-17 V5 choppers to meet the requirements of VVIP transport.

The helicopters were modified at the Air Force’s No.3 Base Repair Depot (3BRD) here. The project was taken up last year and the modified machines were certified for the task by the Regional Center for Military Airworthiness (RCMA), Chandigarh, sources said.

The refurbished aircraft would form part of the Air Headquarters Communication Squadron based at Palam Air Force Station in Delhi, which operates a mix of fixed-wing and rotor wing aircraft for VVIP transport. The squadron’s aircraft, including the Boeing 737 Business, Embraer executive jet, wear a white and blue livery distinct from the low-visibility grey drab worn by other IAF aircraft.

The IAF was earlier using modified Mi-8 helicopters for the purpose, but these have outlived their useful life as they have been in service for over three decades. Plans to induct the Italian Agusta Westland helicopters, of which the IAF wanted 12 numbers and three were actually delivered, crashed after allegations of corruption and kickbacks cropped up. The Agusta deal was scrapped and the IAF was left with no other option but, at least for the time being, to modify existing helicopters.

The modification carried out on the Mi-17s include refurbishment, air-conditioning and soundproofing of the passenger cabin, fitting passenger seats as in commercial airliners, making provision for a small toilet and retrofitting requisite security, communications and safety equipment. Some of the equipment has been sourced from overseas, sources added.

The Mi-17 is an upgraded and more powerful version of the Mi-8. Several versions of the Mi-17 were procured in batches over the past two decades, with more inductions expected in the near future. These helicopters, meant to replace the Mi-17, are being assembled and flight tested at 3BRD, where a massive new hangar has been built for the purpose.