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Background
— Medium-Lift Helicopter — Mil Mi-17 (V5) Hip-H |
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Update: On 30 July 2008, MND
Peter MacKay announced DND’s intention to lease Mi-8 helicopters for use in Afghanistan (Canada’s part in a
larger NATO helicopter lease
effort). On 07 Aug., it was confirmed that Toronto-based Skylink Aviation had
received a $36M contract.
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November 2008 Update – Leased Medium-Lift Mils
Leased civilian Mi-8T helicopters began flying from Kandahar Airfield on 17. Nov 2008. The aircraft are
provided by SkyLink of Toronto although they fly in AeroStan markings (this airline is based in Kazan although
the Mi-8Ts all carry Kirghiz registrations). Such leases are a standard practice for SkyLink but delays suggest
DND contract wrangling – leased Mils were to be supplying the CF troops in Afghan- istan
by late 2007, then in the summer of 2008. Better late than never. Each Mi-8 flight reduces the number of
supply convoys by road.
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Leasing Mil Mi-17s – is Kazan Hip?
With most NATO members refusing to commit their medium-lift helicopters to southern Afghanistan, NATO
is once again talking about leasing helicopters. “By mid-winter, large, vulnerable, heli- copters – likely
aging Russian Mi-17s – will be clattering across Afghan skies delivering everything from bullets to beans to
Canadian soldiers deployed in remote outposts across Kandahar province”, says Paul Koring of the Globe &
Mail. [1] Some clarification is required.
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The Mi-17 is an export version of the older Mi-8 helicopter both of which are still in production at Kazan.[2]
So when NATO considers bids from potential operators, the age of the helicopters on offer will have sway.
Sub-type will also matter – the latest production model is the Mi-17 (V5). The Mil may be far from ideal but
age isn’t a major problem. To put things in perspective, Mi-17 production began in 1982 while some of the
preferred CH-47D Chinook helicopters now in Afghanistan were originally built over 40 years
ago
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Mil (Kazan Helicopters) Mi-17 (V5)
Hip - H – Specifications
Dimensions:
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Length: 18.4m (fuselage), [4] 25.31m
(main
rotor turning), width: 2.5m, height: 5.7m |
| Rotor diameter: |
21.29m (main rotor), 3.9m (tail
rotor) |
| Cabin size: |
5.34m L x 2.34m W x 1.8m H, volume:
23 m3 |
| Weights: |
max internal load: 4000kg, hoist: 5000kg
[5] |
| Performance: |
cruise 230 km/h, max 300 km/h, range 715 km |
Powerplant:
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2 x Motor Sich (Isotov/Klimov) TV3-117
VM
turboshaft engines, take-off power: 1490 kW
(2000 shp), emerg. rating: 1640 kW (2200shp) |
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Fortunately, engine and other maintenance work is the responsibility of the contractor. Leasing costs of over
$100000 a week have been estimated for a fleet of 20 leased Mils. However, the only alternative is
continued reliance on more vulnerable road convoys. This is not to imply that the use of Russian
helicopters will be popular with CF troops. Criticism should be aimed at a procurement system
incapable of timely movement even in wartime [6] and asset-ladened allies who can’t be relied
upon.
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Update: Poland Comes Through...and the Rest of NATO?
On 08 December 2007, Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski promised eight Polish helicopters for Afghanistan. Four
of them are older model Mi-17s,[7] the others are “attack heli- copters” presumably Mi-24s (left). Shortly
after the NATO helicopter-lease announcements, media reports suggested interest from SkyLink Aviation of
Toronto (which already operates Mi-17s in Sudan). Nothing more of this offer was heard, DND obviously prefering
to pressure NATO allies. On 04 Feb 2008, Macleans reported Radosław Sikorski saying that two of the Polish
Mi-17s were to be put “at the disposal of Canada”.
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[1] Beleaguered NATO set to charter helicopters... decision would help protect Canadian troops, Paul Koring,
Globe&Mail, 24 Oct
2007.
[2] The Russian system may confuse some Western observers. Design bureaus and production plants are generally
separated. The Mi-17 was created by the Mil design bureau (part of the aerospace holding company, Oboronprom) but
produced by the Kazan Helicopter Plant.
[3] US, British, and Dutch Chinooks are already in heavy use in southern Afghanistan (the
Australian Army also deployed Chinooks to Kandahar). Our other NATO allies have been less willing to help.
Germany has CH-53G Sea Stallions in-theatre but not in the south. The largest European user of
Chinooks, Italy, has sent none to Afghanistan. Neither has Spain with 18 x HT-17s or Greece with 15 x
CH-47Ds.
[4] Fuselage length varies slightly between older Mi-17s and “dolphin-nosed” Mi-17 (V5)s (derived from
Kelowna Flightcraft’s Mi-17KF).
[5] The Kazan Helicopters website lists the
“[m]aximum load on the sling” as only 4500 kg. A secondary, door hoist can also be mounted.
[6] Although the CDS called for Chinooks as a priority in
2005, no order was placed until 05 June 2006, when an Advance Contract Award Notice
(ACAN) was issued to single-source 16 Boeing CH-47s at a cost of $4.7 B. Quick procurement of rebuilt CH-47Ds was rejected by the Air Force which insisted upon new-built
CH-47Fs. As a result, the earliest possible delivery of Chinooks was 2010 – after the current
deployment. It may be later still. Janes’s reports that changes are being requested which incorporate
features of the special ops MH-47G and HH-47 Combat SAR model Chinooks. When Chinooks
finally do arrive, the current Afghan mission will likely have been completed.
[7] The Polish AF operates a large number of Mi-8 Hips but the Mi-17s were acquired when a deal to supply
Iraq with Polish-refurbished helicopters fell through. Iraq prefered new-built Mi-17s with ramps, Poland was
stuck with the old, ‘clam-shell’ Mi-17s in Iraqi camouflage.
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Obviously capability and serviceability are more important than the age of an airframe. No arguement that the
Chinook wins on both counts but there are none on offer. [3] By default, that leaves leasing
helicopters. The most
plentifully available medium-lift helicopter is the Mi-17. Resistance to the type rests in
On the subject of procurement, it should be noted that that the Mi-17 has been chosen by the US DoD to equip the
Afghan National Army Air Corps and by the US Department of Justice to enforce its poppy eradication
policies – the US Army trains Afghan crews at Fort Bliss, Texas. The ANA uses older model Mi-17s.
Even if CF personnel are
reluctant to rely on non NATO equipment, there is also a message being sent to the ANA
here.