Nepal and Russia had signed a contract for delivery of two Mi-17V-5 choppers, which was scheduled to be delivered in 2014. The two helicopters is said to cost US$ 35 million.
Nepal Army has never operated an Mi-17V-5 helicopter before but had purchased Mi-17 in 2001."As the new chopper is similar in nature and capacity to other choppers already in use in Nepal, the native pilots are familiar with it," said the NA Spokesperson Brigadier General Jagadish Chandra Pokharel. The choppers can be standardized and maintained in Nepal.
According to NA's Directorate of Public Relations, the choppers are capable of navigating remote Himalayan terrains and flying in unfavorable weather conditions.
Mi-17V-5 is the latest modification of Mi-17 and intended for transportation of huge cargo, troops and suspended load.
The Bangladeshi, Indian, Pakistani and Chinese air forces also use similar choppers. The NA is expected to use the choppers during any kind of disaster in future for rescue work.
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