Mi-17 helicopters are manufactured by the Mil Moscow Helicopter Plant JSC and the Kazan Helicopter Plant JSC in Russia. Primary mission it is used to air assault infantry forces to attack the point of penetration, reinforce units in contact or disrupt counterattacks. Secondary missions include, attack, direct air support, electronic warfare, airborne early warning, medevac, search and rescue, and mine laying operations.
This military-transport helicopter is configured with a conventional pod and boom, with a tail rotor and non-retractable tricycle nose-wheel landing gear. The five-bladed rotor is made from aluminum alloy. The cockpit crew is three, commander, navigator and flight mechanic. The survivability features of the Mi-17 include crew cabin amour plating, explosive-resistant foam filling in the fuel tanks, a fire-fighting system and duplicated and standby hydraulic and power systems and main control circuits.
Helicopter can also be configured to carry light armament. The helicopter's landing-transport equipment can be used to load light towed combat material and armament via winches and to rescue people from the ground or from the sea by an electrically operated hoist with 200kg capacity. The cabin has cargo tie-down points on the floor. Ramps are provided for loading vehicles. The external cargo sling is rated to carry 3,000kg. The Mi-8T helicopter is powered by two Klimov TV2-117 turboshafts engines. The helicopter carries 1,870 litres of fuel in two flexible internal tanks and two external tanks. The total fuel capacity can be increased to 3,700 litres by installing up to two ferry tanks in the cabin.
Pakistan is using Mi17 and Mi-17 1 variants in which the engines are upgraded to 2x 2,070-shp Klimov TV3-117VMAs to allow greater rates of climb and hover ceilings.
