HEADLINE: LoC Strike: Why Indias Special Forces prefer the Mi-17

STRAP: Typical of Russian helicopters, the Mi-17 is a thick skinned beast that
offers the safest ride to the target and back.

The Mi-17 helicopter is proving to be the favourite ride of Indias special forces.
In November 2008, these Russian made helicopters were used in the commando
assault on Mumbais Chabad House where Pakistani terrorists had taken the
Jewish residents hostage.
On September 28, four Mi-17 IV helicopters were used to ferry around 60 special
forces fighters during the unprecedented strikes on terrorist camps on the
Pakistani side of the Line of Control (LoC). According to media reports,
(http://www.asianage.com/india/4-mi-17-copters-strikes-2-landed-pok-111) Two
choppers landed not very far from the targets makeshift structures housing
militants waiting to cross over to India at the slightest opportunity dropping
around 30 commandos who went about their task in a blitz. Many of the targets
were in deep sleep when the attack happened. On the other hand, another two
choppers dropped the specialised troops on the Indian side of the LoC. These
troops proceeded silently towards their targets on foot.
Indias surgical strikes saw near-perfect coordination between the special forces,
the Bihar and Dogra Regiments and the Indian Air Force (IAF), as well as other
security and intelligence agencies. The strikes resulted in significant casualties to
militants, with an unknown numbers of Pakistani soldiers also believed to have
been killed.
Versatile chopper
Unlike attack helicopters like the Russian Kamov Ka-25 Alligator (which has a top
speed of 315 kph) or the American Apache (293 kph), the Mi-17 is a medium-lift
military transport helicopter. Compared with attack helicopters, the Mi-17 is a
slower machine (top speed of 250 kph) but it has some characteristics that make
it suited for special ops.
Depending on the variant, the Mi-17s maximum takeoff weight is 13,000 kg
this allows it to carry up to 36 heavily armed troops or 4,000 kg of cargo inside
the cabin, with an additional 4500 kg payload attached on an external sling. An
enlarged rear door with a loading ramp substitutes for the older clamshell doors,
making it quicker and easier to load and unload troops and supplies.
Its two TV3-117BM turboshaft engines are rated at 1900 hp each, giving it
greater service/hovering ceiling, improved performance in hot and high
conditions. The avionics set includes radio and flight navigation equipment used
to fly the helicopter under day, night and adverse weather conditions, and deicing equipment. These characteristics are especially important on Indias
mountainous northern and northeastern borders, observes Defense Industry

Daily. (http://www.defenseindustrydaily.com/india-to-buy-80-mi17-1v-helicopters02755/)
For commando attacks such as the one carried out across the LoC, the
endurance and range of the Mi-17 gives India considerable leeway. With an
operational range of 580 km, it allows the special forces to strike targets as deep
as Peshawar in the northwest. The range can be extended to 1065 km when
equipped with two auxiliary fuel tanks. Plus, the helicopters operational ceiling
of 20,000 ft means it is well beyond the range of small arms fire most likely to be
encountered in stealth operations.
At any rate, typical of Russian helicopters the Mi-17 is a thick skinned beast.
Soldiers in war zones love it because the choppers heavy armour provides better
protection. In 2013 a Syrian Air Force Mi-17 was hit by an air-to-air missile fired
by a Turkish Air Force fighter aircraft but the helicopter survived long enough for
both Syrian pilots to bail out in their own airspace and avoid capture. Compare
that to the spectacular destruction (https://www.youtube.com/watch?
time_continue=53&v=pmX47J0WEfg) of a Turkish Cobra after it was hit by a
Russian made Strela shoulder fired missile. The US made chopper went out of
control, caught fire and came apart in midair, killing both pilots.
According to Strategy Page, the Mi-17s success is due to the fact the Russians
just kept adding better engines and electronics to the choppers basic frame.
If you want mobility for the least cost you get the Mi-17, it says.
Advanced avionics
Because most stealth ops are conducted at night, reliable helicopters that can
navigate without fuss are critical to the success of such missions. During the
1979 Iranian hostage crisis, American special forces had undertaken a risky
mission to rescue US citizens in Iran. However, the mission had to be aborted
when one of the helicopters crashed into a transport aircraft at a rendezvous
point in the desert. Again, in 2011 the US raid on a Pakistan safe house to kill the
terrorist leader Osama bin Laden nearly failed when one of the two helicopters
crashed.
The latest version of Indias Mi-17 is the V-5, which is equipped with night vision
technology, on-board weather radar, a new PKV-8 autopilot system, and a KNEI-8
avionics suite, which, according to a Russian Helicopters press release,
(http://www.helicopter-database.de/pressrelease/20111108.pdf) results in a very
clear and intuitive cockpit with four large multi-functional displays that are easy
to read and help reduce pilot fatigue. The system purportedly also helps reduce
pre-flight inspection time. This can be critical in special forces operations when
soldiers have to move at short notice in response to real time intelligence. Delay
could mean firing bullets and rockets in an empty target zone.
Furthermore, the chopper can be armed with various machine guns, missiles and
rockets. Some of the Mi-17s, which form the backbone of the IAFs transport
helicopter fleet, have been weaponised with 57 mm rocket pods. However, for

the September 28 operation it is likely barebones Mi-17s were selected in order

to maximise troop payload.
Blitzing the competition
Russian helicopters have acquired a well-deserved reputation for being effective
weapons of war. It was the experienced gained during the decade-long Afghan
that helped Russian designers to make them more survivable and combat
effective. In fact, it is a Pentagon inspired myth that US supplied Stingers ended
Russian supremacy in the battlefield. The new shoulder-fired missile did bring
down many Russian choppers initially, but it did not transfer the military
advantage to the Mujahidin. On the contrary, Russian pilots easily dodged these
missiles with flares and better flying techniques.
The most famous of these helicopters was the Mi-25, which Russian pilots
nicknamed the Flying Tank because it was not only extremely survivable, but
also created terror among the mujahidin. The gunship was so effective that the
fear-stricken Islamic fighters called it the "Shaitan-Arba" or Satan's Chariot.
The proven effectiveness of Russian helicopters is the reason why the Pentagon
paid Moscow $1 billion for supplying the Afghan military with Russian-made
helicopters. Thats right, the Americans paid the Russians a billion dollars for
Russian helos because the Afghan Air Force just hates US military equipment.
Questioning the suitability of US choppers, a highly experienced Afghan pilot,
Colonel Qalandar Shah Qalandari, says
(http://www.janes.com/article/56847/afghanistan-receives-first-indian-donatedmi-25-helo) the MD 530F scout helicopter is "a total mess...It's unsafe to fly. The
engine is too weak. The tail rotor is defective. And its not armoured...Even the
guns are no good.