It does not receive public funding Editor in chief: CLARA MOSCHINI
The Russian helicopter Mi-17 will fly with Indian Air Force
Moscow, Russia - Improved nose and cargo vain for this "Air-truck"
Indian Air Force, which sealed a contract in 2008 with Russia purchased for 1.3 billion dollars, started the official employments of its new tactical transport helicopters Mi-17V-5.
The official declaration has been released yesterday February 17 2012 by the exporter Rosoboronexport, an agency ruled by Government exporting military products to foreign purchasers, on Russian resource "Ria Novosti".
The sold helicopters are 80 and firsts 20 have been already consigned to India during last years. More supply will arrive soon and they are going to end in 2014. The helicopters will be built in Russia in Kazan plants (Tatarstan capital city, an industrialized region of central European Russia and also a big commercial node).
The V-5 version of the famous helicopter is the one destined to military market. Moved by two Klimov TV£-117VM for 1633 kW each, the V-5 is different from civil versions having some peculiarities.
Instead of back-doors it got a ramp for fast troops and supply fast landing and a longer nose in the front, "Dolphin-like" which contains avionics and aerodynamically improved.
Based on the family of the Mi-8 transport helicopters (it is different just about the name: Mi-17 is the mane gave by Russia for the helicopters designed for international market) the Mi-17 aircraft are proud of being the most sold in the world, with more than 11,000 helicopters built.
India is one of the best purchasers of this vehicle, with 200 Mi-8 on duty (older versions than V-% of course) plus the next sixty soon to be supplied.
AVIONEWS - World Aeronautical Press Agency - 1137840