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Canada in Afghanistan  –  NATO  –  Medium-Lift Helicopter Assets  –  March  2008 Afghan Medium-Lift – Searching for Available  NATO  Mil  Helicopters Assessing the  Mi-8s and  Mi-17s  in NATO  Service in Central Europe Stephen Priestley,  Researcher,  Canadian  American  Strategic  Review  (CASR) Mil  Medium-Lift  Helicopters in Current  Hungarian,  Slovak, and Czech  Military Service The Hungarian Air Force (or Magyar Légierő ) has a single helicopter wing which includes a mixed  Mi-8 and  Mi-17 medium transport squadron  –   MH 86. “Szolnok” Helikopter Ezred. Hungary received a batch of  Mi-8T and  Mi-8S Hips in the late 1960s.  The Magyar Légierő obtained another 32 locally-assembled Mils in the 1980s. During the 1991 Gulf War, ten Iraqi Mi-8T/S under repair in Hungary were embargoed and then entered Magyar Légierő service. The Magyar Légierő also has seven  Mi-17s in service including two Mi-17TPBs. All  Mi-17s are configured as troop carriers and transport helicopters (the ’TPB was a specialized electronic warfare variant but, in 2004, both helicopters were converted into transports ). Hungarian Mi-17s were all to be upgraded and the older Mi-8s were to be retired. Neither has occured  thus far  and  Mi-8s continue to serve alongside Mi-17s. In many roles (including search-and-rescue for which 2 Mi-8s or Mi-17s are always on standby), the Hungarian Hips have their rear ‘clam-shell’ loading doors removed for easier egress.  Both Mil  types can sling loads (left) and  are fitted with both cargo-handling winches and side door winches. The cargo system is the SLG-300 (3000 kg for the Mi-8, 4500 kg for Mi-17s )  while the electric door winch is the LPG-150 for  Mi-8s and  LPG-300 for Mi-17s.  Most Hungarian Hips can also be fitted with pylons for armament or extra fuel tanks. The helicopters themselves may be older and lacking NATO updates but  Hungarian  helicopter pilots are trained at Portage La Prairie and  there is said to be a pilot surplus. But is Hungary willing to make a bigger commitment to Afghanistan? [1] Making a List and Checking it Twice   –  Mi-8s  and  Mi-17s in  Czech  and  Slovak Service Slovakia’s military aviation fleet was formed from the division of Czechoslovak air assets that occured during the so-called  ‘velvet divorce’ of  January 1993.  From that peaceful  break-up, the Slovaks received 6  Mi-8T/’PS/’PPAs (since retired) and 15  Mi-17s (including both Czech Mi-17Z-2 electronic warfare variants). All 15 of these Slovak military Mi-17s remain in service. Most Slovak Mils are grouped in a dedicated squadron [2], 2 Letka, 3.VlK (Vrtulníkové Letecké Krídlo) at Prešov. The Mi-17s are early models with a minimum of  modernizations (the ASR-VVS having focused on updating its Mi-24 attack helicopters). Still, these are relatively modern aircraft.  Once more, the real question is whether the Slovak Republic sees a reason to bolster ISAF or aid  Canada in Afghanistan. [3] Czechoslovakia was an early adopter of medium-lift Mi-8 series helicopters – as replacements for piston-engined Mi-4s. Towards the end of the Cold War, Czechoslovakia still had over 60 Mi-8s in service. Age has since taken its toll on the original Mi-8 fleet (most of the old Mi-8T, Mi-8S, and Mi-8PS types are now moldering in open storage). We can eliminate the old Mi-8s from our enquiries. The Czechoslovak fleet of Mi-17s was divided during the ‘velvet divorce’. In that divvying up of  Mils,  the newly-formed Czech Republic received a total of  33 Mi-17s.  In 2007, 21 of the original  Mi-17s remained in Czech military service. What  makes these earlier  helicopters interesting from a Canadian perspective is the Czech Air Force’s eager- ness to divest themselves of these aircraft. The reason is that they now possess the superior Mi-171Š variant discussed separately. The ‘disposable’ nature of  the old Czech Mi-17s presents Canada with a genuine opportunity to gain access to NATO-flown medium-lift helicopters in Afghanistan. [1] Hungary has 230 ISAF troops in Kabul and the Kunduz PRT, and police training the ANP. [2] Some Slovak  Mi-17s also act as base support for fighter and attack helicopter squadrons. The Slovak Police service (Letecke Útvar Ministerstva Vnútra) also employs Mil helicopters. This includes four Mi-8s (some sources say only 1 x Mi-8P) and five, ramped  Mi-171 models. [3] As of February 2008, a Slovak Armed Forces multi-functional engineering company (made up of  70 troops) was located at Kabul’s airport.  No Slovak troops are stationed in the south.