Mil Mi-17

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Mi-17 / Mi-8M
Two Mi-17 (Mi-8MTV1) being used for the UN
Role	Transport helicopter
Manufacturer	Mil Moscow Helicopter Plant Kazan Helicopter Plant
First flight	1962
Introduced	1965
Status	In service
Primary users	Russia ca. 60 other countries
Produced	about 12,000[1]
Developed from	Mil Mi-8

The Mil Mi-17 (also known as the Mi-8M series in Russian service, NATO reporting name "Hip") is a Russian-designed 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.

[edit] Development

Croatian Mil Mi-17

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.

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.

Two Egyptian Mi-17 helicopters after unloading troops during an exercise.

In October 2007 defense-aerospace.com reported the government of Saudi Arabia had signed a contract for up to 150 Mi-35 and Mi-17 helicopters worth $2.2billion.^[2]

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 had built 20 helicopters in 2008, using Russian Ulan-Ude-supplied kits. The 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.^[3]

On 28 October 2008, the Royal Thai Army announced a deal to buy 6 Mi-17 to meet its requirement of a medium-lift helicopter, marking the first time the Thai military will acquire Russian aircraft instead of American.^[4] Flight International quotes the Thai army’s rationale: “We are buying three Mi-17 helicopters for the price of one Black Hawk. The Mi-17 can also carry more than 30 troops, while the Black Hawk could carry only 13 soldiers. These were the key factors behind the decision.” ^[5]

On 15 December 2008, Defense News reported that India will purchase 80 Mi-17IV helicopters which will be delivered to Indian Air Force between 2010 and 2014. These will replace aging Mi-8s.

On June 11, 2009, it was announced that the United States handed over four MI-17 cargo helicopters to the Pakistan Army to facilitate its counter-terrorism operation.

On July 10, 2009. It was announced that Chile will push talks with Russia to purchase five Mi-17 multirole helicopters for the Chilean Air Force despite pressure from the United States.^[6]

On September 16, 2009, Navair delivered the last two of four Mi-17 helicopters to the Afghan National Army Air Corps.^[7]

[edit] Operational history

Please help improve this section by expanding it. Further information might be found on the talk page. (December 2008)

Afghan National Air Corps Mi-17s take off in a formation.

In the Sri Lankan Civil War, the Mi-17 saw extensive usage by the Sri Lanka Air Force. Seven of them were lost in combat and attacks on airports.^[8]

The Mi-17 was used by Colombian Army in the Operation Jaque.

In 2001 the Macedonian Air Force has used the Mi-17 against Albanian insurgents.

The Mi-17 is also used for search and rescue teams like Malaysian Fire and Rescue Department in Malaysia.

Executive Outcomes used them extensively in its operations in the Angolan Civil War.^{[citation needed]}

The Mexican Navy utilizes their Mi-17's for anti-narcotic operations such as locating marijuana fields and dispatching marines to eradicate the plantations.^[9]

[edit] Variants

US Army's 14th Cavalry Regiment soldiers prepare to rendezvous with Indian Army troops after exiting an Mi-17 helicopter flown by the 107th Indian Army Aviation Helicopter Unit.

Mexican Navy Mi-17 with RDR-1500B Radar and FLIR Star SAFIRE II

Mi-17 in Gulistan district, Farah province, Afghanistan

Kazakhstan Air Force Mil Mi-8MT

Malaysian Fire and Rescue Department Mi-17-1V

Mi-17V-5

Mi-171Sh

Indian Air Force Mi-17

Pakistan Army Mi-17

Mi-8AMT

Unarmed civilian transport version of the Mi-17 Hip-H.

Mi-8AMT(Sh)

This version of the Mi-8AMT is built in Ulan-Ude rather than Kazan.

Mi-8MT

Updated version of the Mi-8T, powered by two 3846-shp (2868-kW) Klimov TV3-117MT turboshaft engines. Russian designation of the Mi-17 Hip-H.

Mi-8MTV

Hot and High version, fitted with a pressurised cabin, powered by two Klimov TV3-117VM turboshaft engines.

Mi-8MTV-1

Radar-equipped civil version of the Mi-8MTV. Russian designation of the Mi-17-1V.

Mi-8MTV-2

Military version of the Mi-8MTV, fitted with a radar, six weapons pylons for carrying rocket pods, missiles and other weapons.

Mi-8MTV-3

Military version of the Mi-8MTV-2, fitted with four weapons pylons.

Mi-8MTV-5

Military utility transport helicopter. Export designation Mi-17MD.

Mi-8MTV-5-Ga

Civilian version of the Mi-8MTV-5.

Mi-8MTO

Night attack conversions of the Mi-8MT and Mi-MTV helicopters.

Mi-8MTPB (NATO - Hip-H EW)

Electronic jamming version of the Mi-17 Hip-H. Export designation Mi-17PP.

Mi-8AMTSh (for export - Mi-171Sh)

Variant with new large door on the right side, kevlar plates around the cockpit area and engines. Some of them (but not all) have a loading ramp in place of the usual clamshell doors, and will load a vehicle up to the size of an SUV. Czech Republic and Croatia have ordered these types in 2005 and 2007. Bangladesh Air Force also operates Mi-17SH as armed helicopter^[10]

Mi-17 (NATO - Hip-H)

Improved version of the Mi-8, powered by two Klimov TV3-117MT turboshaft engines. Basic production version.

Mi-17-1M

High altitude operations version, powered by two Klimov TV3-117VM turboshaft engines.

Mi-17-IV

Military transport, helicopter gunship version, powered by two Klimov TV3-117VM turboshaft engines. Also known as the Mi-8MTV-1.

Mi-17-IVA

Flying hospital version.

Mi-17MD

Export version of the Mi-8MTV-5, powered by two Klimov TV3-117VM turboshaft engines.

Mi-17KF

Export version fitted with new avionics.

Mi-17P

Export version, passenger transport helicopter.

Mi-17PG

Electronic jamming helicopter, which has a single H/I-band jamming system.

Mi-17PI

Electronic jamming helicopter, which has a single D-band jamming system.

Mi-17PP

Elecrontic jamming version of the Mi-17 Hip-H. Russian designation Mi-8MTPB.

Mi-17AE

Little-known SAR and medevac version given to Poland.

Mi-17 LPZS

Specialised version for the SAR units (Leteckej Pátracej a Záchrannej Služby) of Slovakia. Four ordered.^[11]

Mi-17Z-2

Czech electronic warfare version.

Mi-18

Original designation of the Mil Mi-17.

Mi-19

Airborne command post version for tank and motorized infantry commanders (based on Mi-8MT/Mi-17 airframe).

Mi-19R

Airborne command post version similar to Mi-19 for commanders of rocket artillery (based on Mi-8MT/Mi-17 airframe).

Mi-171

Fitted with more powerful turboshaft engines.

Mi-172

Civil Passenger version manufactured in Kazan plant

[edit] Operators

•  Afghanistan
•  Algeria
•  Angola
•  Armenia
•  Azerbaijan
•  Bangladesh
•  Belarus
•  Bolivia
•  Bosnia and Herzegovina
•  Bulgaria
•  Burkina Faso
•  Cambodia
•  China
•  Colombia
•  Croatia
•  Cuba
•  Czech Republic
•  Ecuador
•  Egypt
•  Eritrea
•  Ethiopia
•  Georgia
•  Ghana
•  Hungary
•  India
•  Indonesia
•  Iraq
•  Iran
•  Kazakhstan
•  Kenya
•  Kyrgyzstan
•  Laos
•  Latvia
•  Libya
•  Lithuania
•  Republic of Macedonia
•  Malaysia
•  Mexico
•  Mongolia
•  Myanmar
•  Nepal
•  Nicaragua
•  Nigeria
•  North Korea
•  Pakistan
•  Papua New Guinea
•  Peru
•  Poland
•  Romania
•  Russia
•  Rwanda
•  Saudi Arabia
•  Senegal
•  Serbia
•  Sierra Leone
•  Slovakia
•  Sri Lanka
•  Sudan
•  Syria
•  Tajikistan
•  Turkey
•  Turkmenistan
•  Uganda
•  Ukraine
•  Uzbekistan
•  Venezuela
•  Vietnam

[edit] Future Operators

•  Argentina^[12]

[edit] Incidents

• In 2004 an Mi-17 carrying then Vice-President of Kenya, Moody Awori crash-landed at Athi River town in the outskirts of the Kenyan capital city, Nairobi. No one was injured.^{[citation needed]}
• January 12, 2008 Mi-17 of the Macedonian Armed Forces crashed, killing all three crew members and eight passengers.^{[citation needed]}
• May 31, 2008 a People's Liberation Army Mi-171 transport crashed in southwest Sichuan provinces with 14 onboard. It was operating mission during 2008 Sichuan earthquake.^[13]
• May 3, 2009 a Venezuelan Air Force Mi-17 transport crashed in west Tachira province with 18 onboard.^{[citation needed]}
• May 11, 2009 a Kenya police Mi-17 carrying 28 people including the Police chief and a minister crashed in Western Kenya with serious injuries to many of them.No dead were reported.^{[citation needed]}
• July 4, 2009 A Pakistan Army Mi-17 carrying military personnel crashed in Orakzai Agency due to technical fault. Though there was a rumor that it was hit by Taliban but facts showed that it developed a technical fault resulting in crash.^{[14][unreliable source?]}
• October 25, 2009 A Mi-17 of the Pakistan Army crashed in a security forces controlled area of the Bajaur Agency's Nawagai tehsil after supplying fuel and rations to a remote military post, killing 3 personnel of the Frontier Corps, and injuring the pilot, the co-pilot and 4 others. Cause of the crash was the development of a technical fault.^{[citation needed]}

[edit] Specifications (Mil-17)

General characteristics

• Crew: Three – two pilots and one engineer
• Capacity: 32 passengers or 4,000 kg (8,800 lb) on internal/4,500 kg (10,250 lb) external hardpoints.
• Length: 18.42 m (60 ft 5 in)
• Rotor diameter: 21.352 m (69 ft 10 in)
• Height: 4.76 m (15 ft 7 in)
• Disc area: 356 m² (3,830 ft²)
• Empty weight: 7,100 kg (15,700 lb)
• Loaded weight: 11,100 kg (24,470 lb)
• Max takeoff weight: 13,000 kg (28,700 lb)
• Powerplant: 2× Klimov TV3-117VM turboshafts, 1,545 kW (2225 shp) each

Performance

• Maximum speed: 250 km/h (156 mph)
• Range: 950 km (594 miles)
• Service ceiling: 6,000 m (19,690 ft)
• Rate of climb: 8 m/s (1,575 ft/min)
• Disc loading: 31 kg/m² (6 lb/ft²)
• Power/mass: 0.26 kW/kg (0.16 hp/lb)
• Fuel consumption: 600 kg/h (1,320 lb/h)

Armament

• up to 1,500 kg (3,300 lb) of disposable stores on six hardpoints, including bombs, rockets, and gunpods.

[edit] See also

Related development

• Mil Mi-8
• Mil Mi-14
  

Comparable aircraft

• Aérospatiale Super Frelon
• Eurocopter AS332
• AgustaWestland EH101
• NHI NH90
  

[edit] References

The initial version of this article was based on material from aviation.ru. It has been released under the GFDL by the copyright holder.

[edit] External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Mil Mi-17

• Mi-17 DataBase
• Mi-17 Photo Gallery
• Mi-17 section at www.aviation.ru
• Venezuelan MI-17 site
• Mi 171V Malaysia Fire Department - Bomba