The Mi-17V5 Russian-made military transport choppers, one of which crashed on Wednesday killing General Bipin Rawat and 12 others, are a “very reliable” workhorse, carrying cargo and troops, flying VVIPs and conducting rescue and relief missions, military officials and sources said.

“This workhorse of the Indian Air Force is very reliable. It’s often used to ferry VVIPs, including the President and the Prime Minister,” a retired lieutenant general said.

An army official said the Mi-17V5 had only once before been involved in a big crash — in Jammu and Kashmir on February 27, 2019, a day after India’s air strike on Balakot, Pakistan, in retaliation for the February 14 Pulwama terror bombing.

The IAF court of inquiry found that the Mi-17 had been mistakenly shot down by India’s own air force during a dogfight between Indian and Pakistani fighter jets. Six air force personnel died in the crash in Budgam while a civilian on the ground was charred to death.

Another military veteran said the Mi-17V5 is a twin-engine helicopter: “If one engine fails, it can run on the other; it’s an amazing machine.”
India had bought and inducted its fleet of Mi-17V5s between 2013 and 2018. These Soviet-designed Russian helicopters can land on unprepared sites at night, carry a maximum load of 13,000kg and fly at speeds up to 250km per hour.

Experts said the Mi-17V5, equipped with modern avionics, can be used in any topography, climate or weather and at any time of day or night.

It’s designed to carry personnel, cargo and equipment inside its cargo cabin or on an external sling, drop tactical air assault forces, reconnaissance teams and sabotage groups, destroy ground targets and carry the wounded.

“Its primary tasks include making tactical air drops, destroying targets on the ground and carrying the wounded. The Mi-17V5 can carry arms like unguided rockets, cannons and small arms,” an army official said.

An IAF official said: “The Mi-17V5 is used regularly for high-altitude operations. It also plays an active part in rescue as well as fire-fighting missions.”

India had first placed an order for the Mi-17V5 in 2008, seeking to buy 80 of the machines to replace its ageing Mi-8 fleet.

In 2015, the air force assigned six Mi-17V5 choppers from its regular fleet to its special squadron for VVIP flights. This was done after a corruption scandal led to the revocation of a contract for the AgustaWestland AW101 VVIP choppers in 2014.