The Indian Air Force intends to continue purchasing Russian helicopters in 2016. We are talking about the purchase of 48 multipurpose military transport helicopters Mi-17V-5. The spokesman for the Indian Air Force, Simranpal Singh Birdi, told the Russian news agency that such a deal is planned. The cost of the contract has not yet been disclosed. But earlier the deal was estimated at $ 1.1 billion.
The Mi-8MTV-5 helicopters, bearing the export designation Mi-17V-5, can be used both for the transportation of personnel and for the transportation of goods. The vehicle is armed with: "Attack" anti-tank guided missiles, S-8 unguided aircraft missiles, and it is also possible to install machine guns and grenade launchers. The machines have proven themselves well when flying in harsh climatic conditions and using in hard-to-reach mountainous terrain. Helicopters of the Mi-17 type (an export version of the Mi-8 family) are most in demand among foreign customers.
Thus, according to the Center for Analysis of Strategies and Technologies, last year the total volume of identified contracts for Russian helicopter technology through military-technical cooperation amounted to about 133 aircraft, of which 107 were helicopters of the Mi-8, Mi-17, Mi-171 families. The largest importers in 2014 were Afghanistan (30 Mi-17V-5 helicopters), China (24 Mi-171 and Ka-32 helicopters), India (19 Mi-17V-5 helicopters) and Iraq (19 Mi-17V- 5, Mi-35 and Mi-28NE).
More than 300 Mi-8 and Mi-17 are currently in use in India. In general, according to experts, more than 70% of Indian weapons are Soviet and Russian production.
