The Mi-17V5 is a modern transport helicopter used by the Indian Air Force. The chopper is designed to carry personnel, cargo and equipment inside its cargo cabin or on an external sling.
The helicopter is capable of dropping tactical air assault forces and reconnaissance teams.
Equipped with modern avionics, the helicopter is capable of operating in any geographical and climatic conditions, day and night, along with adverse weather situations.
The Indian Air Force uses the helicopter to not only transport cargo but also deploy troops in operational areas apart from rescue and relief missions across the country.
India acquired 80 Mi-17 helicopters from Russia a few years back, which are the workhorse of the Indian Air Force's medium transport fleet.
The Russia-made chopper Mi-17 V5 is a trusted aircraft used for all dignitary movements, including the prime minister. The Mi-17 V5 is top of the line series. The last batch of the chopper was delivered to India in 2018.
There have been no major crashes of the helicopter apart from a single accident in Jammu and Kashmir in February 2019, the day after India conducted an aerial strike in Pakistan's Balakot in the aftermath of the Pulwama terror attack.