CDS General Bipin Rawat, his wife, and 11 others on board a Mi-17V5 IAF helicopter were killed after it crashed in Tamil Nadu’s Coonoor.
While the exact cause behind the crash is not known yet, official sources said the accident may have happened due to poor visibility following heavy fog.
MI 17 know about the chopper
In February 2016, Rostec State Corporation of Russia handed over to India the final batch of three helicopters of the contract for 151 Mi-17V-5 helicopters. They were manufactured by Kazan Helicopter Plant, part of Russian Helicopters.
India is one of the largest operators of Russian military equipment. Taking into consideration all the enterprises that are currently under the Russian Helicopters holding company, it has delivered to India 110 units of the Mi-4, 128 units of the Mi-8 and about 160 units of the Mi-17, according to Rostec.
In 2008, India had signed a contract with Rosoboronexport for the delivery of 80 Mi-17V-5, which was completed in 2011-2013. In 2012-2013, three additional deals were signed to supply a total of 71 Mi-17V-5 for the needs of the Air Force, the Home Ministry and the Secretariat of the PM of India, Rostec said.
According to the company, this helicopter can achieve a maximum speed of 250 km per hour.* Mi-17V5 choppers are among the most technically advanced helicopters of the Mi-8/17 type.
The helicopter has a maximum takeoff weight of 13,000kg. It can transport either 36 armed soldiers internally or 4,500kg of load on a sling.* Each Indian Mi-17V5 has a complex navigation and electronic display KNEI-8.* Designed to transport cargo inside the cabin and on an external sling, the Mi-17V-5 is one of the world’s most advanced transport helicopters.* It can also be deployed in troop and arms transport, fire support, convoy escort, patrol, and search-and-rescue (SAR) missions.
While the exact cause behind the crash is not known yet, official sources said the accident may have happened due to poor visibility following heavy fog.
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