MI-17 Hip in service?

[PFR]

Anyone know why we want to fly one of these? Can it do something special? (other than confuse the chaps at the serious end with funny looking dials and scales of measurement)......and where did that one come from?...Questions, Questions...I know...just being nosey:)

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y55/968Man/ny0l0060lowres.jpg

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y55/968Man/ny0l0113.jpg

[kharmael]

Aren't we teaching the Afghans how to fly MI-8s (weedier engines, same frame)?

[Buster Hyman]

Wow! Any chopper with rear view mirrors gets my vote!! :ok:

[Beancountercymru]

For the same reason that Qinetiq fly Alpha Jets? They are cheap and available.... and perhaps buying a British helicopter takes too long I guess

[Jackonicko]

This has been done to death:

eg:

http://www.pprune.org/archive/index.php/t-339229.html

ZB697 Mil Mi-17 Mk.1V/Mi-8MTV (manufacturer’s serial number 103M02) - Ex Bulgarian Air Force serial 402
ZB698 Mil Mi-17 Mk.1V/Mi-8MTV (manufacturer’s serial number 103M03) - Ex Bulgarian Air Force serial 403

These are re-used serials which were formerly used by Chukar target drones.

The aircraft wear the scheme commonly applied to QinetiQ aircraft.

There have been reports that they are used by ETPS, or for training specific foreign nation pilots.

There was also speculation that they may have been intended as testbeds for a NATO upgrade package that would allow some new NATO nations to bring their 'Hips' up to a common 'theatre entry' standard.

see:

Mi-17 Upgrade Aims To Fill NATO Helo Gap | AVIATION WEEK (http://www.aviationweek.com/aw/generic/story_generic.jsp?channel=mro&id=news/Mi173278.xml&headline=Mi-17%20Upgrade%20Aims%20To%20Fill%20NATO%20Helo%20Gap)

Recent revelations would, I would suggest, perhaps tend to confirm the suspicion that they may have been used by Handling Squadron for pilots' notes to be written/compiled, by the RWTS (or whatever it's called this week) for any MAR/EOC work, and for training to support the UK's in-theatre use of Mi-17s.

http://www.pprune.org/military-aircrew/397297-cuts-ground-special-forces-helicopters.html

MAR = Military Aircraft Release
EOC = Emergency Operational Clearance

Speculation alert!

NB: http://www.pprune.org/military-aircrew/397297-cuts-ground-special-forces-helicopters.html

links to an article that says:

From The Sunday Times
November 29, 2009
Cuts ground special forces’ helicopters
Stephen Grey and Michael Smith

HELICOPTERS used by British special forces to mentor their Afghan counterparts on anti-drugs operations have been grounded to save just £2m a year. The funding for the helicopters — used by the Special Boat Service (SBS) and Afghan special forces for raids on drugs barons and Taliban insurgents — was cut by the Foreign Office two months ago.

The decision came despite Gordon Brown’s announcement that Britain’s “exit strategy” rests on training Afghan forces to take over its role.

The Foreign Office refused to discuss the funding but privately officials confirmed the money was cut amid vain hopes that the Americans would foot the bill instead.

The mission, known as Operation Emperor, involved SBS commandos training the Afghan special narcotics force as well as mentoring them.

In June last year, it resulted in the seizure of 262 tons of cannabis in Kandahar province, the world’s largest drugs haul.

Des Browne, the former defence secretary, told MPs in May 2007 that the operation was “highly effective” at detecting Taliban communications and supply routes from Pakistan.

“It was a highly successful mission and the Afghans were getting better every day,” a special forces source said last week. “The paltry sums involved were getting a pretty valuable return.”

The Afghan military supplied four Russian-made MI-8 Hip helicopters but could not afford to run them so the Foreign Office agreed to fund the costs of the fuel and upkeep.

The helicopters were flown by British pilots from 7 Squadron, RAF special forces. But despite Britain’s lead role in the Afghan drugs operations the Foreign Office is cutting its overall funding from £49.2m last year to £36.7m this year.

Ed Butler, who commanded British troops when they first deployed to Helmand in 2006, said: “It strikes me as pretty counter-intuitive and verging on the ridiculous to cut this funding when the government is stressing the training of Afghan security forces as a way of withdrawing our troops.”

The Conservatives said it “beggared belief" that the Foreign Office should withdraw funding from what was clearly an important project. Liam Fox, the shadow defence secretary, said: “For British troops to leave safely, we need to have fully trained Afghan security forces. This cut will undermine that task.”

There was a photo of one of these aircraft in AFM last year.

NB: UKSF Aviation (http://www.eliteukforces.info/air-support/)

says:

"UK Special Forces are sometimes supported by British-operated MI-8/MI-17 helicopters. These Russian-built helicopters are fitted with western radio gear and countermeasure systems, additional armour and GPMGs mounted in the cabin doors. UKSF use the MI-17s for several reasons: there's a shortage of helicopters capable of operating across the mountains of Afghanistan, the ubiquitous MI-17 airframe is less obviously Western in appearance than say, a Chinook, and spare parts are easy to find in the region."

This would seem to be distinct from the use of commercially owned, 'bought in' Russian helicopters referred to in:

Now we are borrowing Russian helicopters to fight the Taliban | Mail Online (http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1200620/Now-borrowing-Russian-helicopters-fight-Taliban.html)

[billynospares]

Project Curium look it up its in the public domain and was in Airforces monthly a while ago

[PFR]

Thanks Jackonicko - all very enlightning, much appreciated. Sorry if it gave you the :rolleyes: factor....The summaries and links you gave make interesting reading. :O