In a boost to India’s self-sufficiency in carrying out defence repairs, Indian Air Force has got its own facility for repair and overhaul of Russian Mi-17V-5 type helicopters.

Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Maintenance Command, Air Marshal RKS Shera inaugurated the facility today (17 April). Addressing the IAF personnel, Air Marshall Shera said that the new infrastructural facility at Chandigarh unit would help repair Mi-17 V5 helicopter airframes and their Aero engines.

The Air Marshall inspected the 3rd Base Repair Depot of its aircraft and Aero engine overhauling facilities and was also given an understanding on various technical, administrative and logistical aspects of the depot’s activities.

He later inaugurated the 2nd Marshal of the IAF Arjan Singh Memorial Hockey Tournament and unveiled an HPT-32 aircraft installed at the 3 BRD Air Force School in Sector 31.

The Russian made Mi-17 V5 helicopters have a Medium Heli-lift capability in terms of the avionics, weapon systems as well as its hot and high altitude performance.

The IAF operates them for commando assault tasks, ferrying supplies and personnel to remote mountain helipads, carrying out Search and Rescue Operations and logistic support tasks in the island territories and Siachen Glacier.