IAF's Mi-17 V5 helicopters: How India's go-to chopper for rescue ops dealt with wildfires in the Northeast

The Indian Air Force (IAF) has deployed helicopters to douse wildfires simultaneously on two fronts—the Dzukou Valley of Nagaland and Walong in Arunachal Pradesh. As per initial information, the fire in Arunachal is suspected to have originated in the forested hills around Walong, likely triggered by dry vegetation and prevailing weather conditions that allowed the flames to spread rapidly across the area.

In a social media post, the IAF confirmed that its helicopters are "conducting relentless aerial firefighting missions in challenging terrain." The IAF said the firefighting mission was going on despite the challenges presented by the steep slopes, poor visibility, and rarefied air.

Mission completed in Arunachal 

At Walong, a total of 139,800 litres of water has been dropped to extinguish the blaze, while operations were still in progress in Nagaland. IAF's Mi-17 V5 helicopters were deployed, drawing water from Padumpokhiri Lake in Dimapur to be poured over the flames near Japfu Peak. 

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Earlier, it was reported that troops of the Indian Army, the Indian Air Force, and the civil administration are working in close coordination to control the blaze that broke out in Walong on Friday, 13 February. Personnel of the Indian Army's Spear Corps, along with support from the Indian Air Force and district authorities, remain fully engaged in dousing residual flames, preventing fresh flare-ups, and securing the affected areas.

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Over the past five days, firefighting efforts have been carried out through the coordinated deployment of manpower, specialised equipment, and heavy machinery, while helicopters have been conducting aerial reconnaissance and water-dropping missions.

What are Mi-17 V5 helicopters?

The Mil Mi-17 is a Soviet-designed Russian military helicopter that can serve multipurpose roles, including utility, transport, and even assault missions. They are known for their endurance and can fly in tropical and maritime climates, as well as desert conditions. It has a maximum take-off weight of 13,000 kg and is built to carry either 36 armed soldiers internally or 4,500 kg of load on a sling. The Mi-8AMT, Mi-8MTV-1, Mi-171, Mi-171A1, and Mi-172 are the variants of the time-tested chopper that are currently in production.

According to a US government document, the Mi-17 can climb at the rate of 8 m/s. The maximum and cruise speeds of the helicopter are 250 km/h and 225 km/h, respectively. The range of the helicopter is 465 km and the service ceiling is 6,000 m. The aircraft weighs around 7,489 kg.

KNOW MORE ABOUT THE HELICOPTER HERE

According to the official website of its manufacturers, "The firefighting model is designed to tackle blazes using a helicopter bucket on an external sling, which can deliver up to 4,000 litres of water and target the burn zone with a high degree of accuracy. The helicopter can also deliver firefighting crews and special equipment to firefighting areas."