CASR
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In Detail |
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In Detail |
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Canada in Afghanistan – NATO –
Medium-Lift Helicopter Assets – March 2008 Afghan Medium-Lift – Searching for Available NATO Mil Helicopters Mi-171Š – Latest Model Mi-17s in Service With the Czech Air Force Stephen Priestley, Researcher, Canadian American Strategic Review (CASR)
The most alluring of the NATO Mils are the Czech Republic’s Mi-171Šs. [1] These are the most modern and capable of medium-lift Mils. How these aircraft came into Czech service is an odd story. The Czech Republic was still owed money by the former Soviet Union and the Russian Federation was responsible for settling these outstanding debts. A deal was struck whereby the Czech Armed Forces received new helicopters in lieu of payment – 16 Mi-171Š and 17 Mi-35 attack helicopters to replace older Mi-8 Hips and Mi-24 Hinds in Czech service. 
The Mi-171Š has an updated cockpit and avionics compared with earlier-model Hips. That
cockpit can be protected with removable
armour plates (a common feature on Mils in Czech service) but other, kevlar panels protect vital systems –
including engine parts. Six of the 16 Mi-171Šs have ramps but egress is improved for all by adding
another crew door on the starboard side.
When needed, both side doors can be fitted with pintle mounts for 7.62mm PKM machineguns. Czech Mi-171Š are
also fitted with outrigger pylons (three per side) but these are not intended for armaments. The ‘wet’
pylons are plumbed for extra fuel – up to six streamlined tanks that can extend flying time to as
much as six hours. The most important feature of the Mi-171Š, however, is its engines. The
twin TV3-117VMs have take-off ratings of 1,434 kW each to improve ‘hot and high’ performance.
Countermeasures include twin EVU exhaust diffusers, 4 ASO-2V chaff/flare dispensers (right, above roundel ),
and an L-166V ‘Hot Brick’ IR jammer.As mentioned, the Mi-171Š is the most modern medium-lift helicopter available to the Czechs. And there’s the rub. Why should the Czechs risk their only up-to-date Mils in a war that, so far, they have shown little interest in?[2] If the Mi-171Šs were offered to aid Canada, it would be a magnanimous gesture. However, if any persuasion by Canadian officials is needed at the NATO summit in Bucharest, those other, older Czech Mi-17s would seem more fertile ground. [1] Mi-171Š is a strictly Czech designation. The builder of these helicopters – the Ulan-Ude Aviation Plant – refers to them as an Mi-171(Sh), roughly equivalent to the Kazan Mi-17 V-1. [2] Small numbers of Czech troops are deployed in Kabul and Faizabad in northern Afghani- stan. More quietly, a small contingent of Czech military police has been serving in Helmand. |
