Mil Mi-17V-5
The medium-lift helicopter the IAF runs on.
About the Mi-17V-5
The Mil Mi-17 (NATO reporting name: Hip) is a Soviet-designed Russian military helicopter family introduced in 1975 (Mi-8M), continuing in production as of 2024 at two factories in Russia, in Kazan and Ulan-Ude. It is known as the Mi-8M series in Russian service. The helicopter is mostly used as a medium twin-turbine transport helicopter, as well as an armed gunship version.
Service history
India has operated Mi-8/Mi-17 variants since the 1970s; the current V-5 fleet arrived from 2011 under contracts for 151 aircraft. It carries troops, casualties and slung loads across the whole country, flies the Siachen and Ladakh resupply runs, and doubles as a firefighting and disaster-relief platform.
Combat edge
Around 223 airframes, the IAF's largest helicopter fleet
Operates from sea level to Siachen helipads
Armed variants carry rockets and a door gun
Doubles as disaster-relief and firefighting lift