BISHKEK: The Kyrgyzstan Air Force has received a new Mi-17V-5 Hip-H tactical transport helicopter from the state-owned defence export and import company of Russia, Rosoboronexport.
The new Mi-17V-5 (Bort No ‘201 Red’) was formally provided to the Kyrgyz Air Force (KAF) during a ceremony at the Frunze-One airfield – which is located to the north of the country’s capital city, Bishkek, and is home to the air arm’s Helicopter Regiment – on 23 June.
The aircraft was assembled by Kazan Helicopters and was air-freighted to the country by an Il-76 Candid strategic transport following completing a series of pre-delivery flight checks in Russia.
The handover event was attended by Lt Gen Baktybek Bekbolotov, Kyrgyzstan’s Minister of Defence, along with representatives from Rosoboronexport, Kyrgyz Armed Forces, and Kazan Helicopters.
During the ceremony, Bekbolotov said that the multi-purpose Mi-17 helicopter would considerably increase the capabilities of the KAF in completing assigned tasks.
Helicopters with Kyrgyzstan Air Force
Otherwise known as military unit 23565, the KAF’s Helicopter Regiment at Frunze-One already operates a number of older Mi-8T, Mi-8MTV-1, and Mi-8MTV-1S Hips, along with many other Mi-24V Hind-E gunships.
It has been reported that a second Mi-17 (of an unknown subvariant but carrying the Bort No ‘205 Red’) was also delivered to Kyrgyzstan.
