IAF Mi-35 attack helicopters undergoing an overhaul, to add six years of life
The single squadron of Mi-35 attack helicopters in the Indian Air Force (IAF) is undergoing a complete overhaul in Russia which will extend these helicopter lifespan by six years keeping them in service beyond this decade, according to defense sources.
The overhaul is being done in two batches. The first batch is currently in Russia and once they are done, the second batch would be sent. The entire overhaul should be completed by mid-2023,” a defense source said. The overhaul of each batch takes around six to eight months, the source stated.
The IAF earlier operated two squadrons of the older Russian Mi-25/35 attack helicopters, of which one squadron has been phased out following the induction of 22 Boeing AH-64E Apache attack helicopters in 2019-20. The 125 Helicopter Unit operating Apaches is based at Pathankot.
The overhaul will add another six years of life to the Mi-35s keeping them in service beyond this decade, sources said.
In 2015-16, India handed over four Mi-25/35 attack helicopters to Afghanistan National Army taken from the IAF’s inventory.
Expanding its fleet of attack helicopters, IAF inducted the indigenous Light Combat Aircraft (LCH) Prachand in October with the first squadron, 143 Helicopter Unit ‘Dhanush’, based at Jodhpur. Eventually, the Army is looking for another 95 LCH and the IAF another 65 of them, and the induction is likely spread over the next 10-15 years.
India has contracted six additional Apache attack helicopters in an estimated $800 million deal signed in February 2020, but they will be operated by Army Aviation. Deliveries are expected by early 2024.
In all, the IAF operates a wide mix of around 500 rotary platforms which includes around 90 Mi-17s, over 130 Mi-17V5s, over 70 indigenous Advanced Light Helicopters (ALH) including the weaponized Rudra variant, 22 AH-64E Apache attack helicopters, one squadron of Mi-35 attack helicopters and 15 CH-47F Chinook heavy lift helicopters. The IAF is in talks with Boeing to procure 11 additional Chinooks.
An Indian Air Force (IAF) chopper on Tuesday made an emergency landing in Rajasthan. According to officials, the chopper landed in a rural field in the Hanumangarh district after experiencing a mechanical problem, news agency PTI reported.
Further, the police stated that all crew members aboard the helicopter were safe.
It was a helicopter of the Indian Air Force that made an emergency landing on the farm on Tuesday morning,” Station House Officer of Sangaria police station Hanumanaram Vishnoi
The helicopter made the emergency landing due to a technical snag. Its crew members are safe,” he said.
An Indian Army Cheetah helicopter made a cautious landing in Prayagraj in Uttar Pradesh earlier this month, according to authorities.
After confirmation of safety aspects, the helicopter took off and landed safely at Air Force Station Prayagraj,” said one of the officials.
The chopper made a cautious landing at 10 a.m., according to authorities.
