Shaurya Karanbir Gurung

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, July 24

India’s Mi-17 1V helicopters, used primarily  for disaster rescue operations and transportation of troops to remote areas, are finally going to Russia for a major overhaul.Mi-17 1V is a product of Kazan Helicopters, which also carries out the overhaul. A major overhaul means not only repairs or change of engine, but also avionics and hydraulics. For the Border Security Force Air Wing, this comes four years after the choppers started getting grounded in Delhi for running on outdated parts.BSF’s Mi-17 1Vs are based out of Delhi because the hangars are better equipped. This reduces their capacity to work outside Delhi, as they have to undergo maintenance after every 50 flying hours.Four of BSF’s six Mi-17 1Vs were grounded in 2012. The fifth gave away in January last year and the last one was grounded last month. At present, all require a complete overhaul.The situation is equally bad for the Indian Air Force. It has four squadrons of Mi-17 1Vs, each having 12 helicopters, meaning a total of 48. Most are grounded as they have reached the overhaul stage.The BSF, on its own, does not have the resources to overhaul the Mi-17 1Vs and looks to the IAF for help. However, the Air Force expects it to strike a deal with the manufacturing firm on its own. These machines were bought along with the ones procured by the IAF in 2003.Other than the four squadrons of IAF’s Mi-17 1Vs, the remaining have been converted to Mi-17 V5. “The Mi-17 1Vs cannot always be sent to Russia. Because it is not practical to establish a servicing facility in India for the 1V, it will be eventually be phased out,” said an official, adding that a base repair depot for overhauling the Mi-17 V5 will be established in Kanpur.