Perú to double number of C-27Js Mi-17s

Peru intends to acquire a range of new fixed- and rotary-wing transport aircraft across its armed forces, in part to bolster the country’s resources to cope with humanitarian relief operations.
The South American country’s shopping list includes additional Leonardo C-27J battlefield transports, heavy transport aircraft – including for in-flight refuelling – more Viking Aircraft DHC-6 Series 400 Twin Otters, plus a substantial number of Mil Mi-17 helicopters.
Peru’s air force already operates four C-27Js and, will buy another two before the end of 2020, with six more to follow over the next three years. In addition, the Peruvian army is considering the twin-turboprop to replace a fleet of three Antonov An-32Bs, all of which are approaching 30 years old.
Peru already operates a substantial fleet of Mi-8/17-series helicopters across the three branches of its armed forces, as well as the country’s national police, and will stick with the Russian-built rotorcraft for future purchases to maintain commonality.
flightglobal

Afghanistan receive first Black Hawk helos

The Afghan Air Force (AAF) received on 18 September its first batch of Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawk utility helicopters.
The delivery, which was announced on the same day on the Facebook page of the 438th Air Expeditionary Wing (EAW), saw two UH-60s arrive at Kandahar Airfield in southern Afghanistan aboard a US Air Force (USAF) Boeing C-17A Globemaster III transport aircraft.
The AAF is set to receive 53 Black Hawks as the United States transitions the country’s armed forces over from its approximately 80 Russian-built Mil Mi-17 'Hip' helicopters. These former US Army aircraft are undergoing a major refurbishment and upgrade effort prior to delivery to Afghanistan. No delivery timeline has been disclosed.
janes

Poland To Cut Caracal Order, Reconsider Black Hawk, AW149

Poland’s has announced plans to decrease the amount of the Caracal EC725 helicopters the country is to acquire from Airbus Helicopters. This would allow the ministry to also purchase Black Hawk and AW149 helos from Sikorsky and AgustaWestland, respectively.
The decision comes following the forming of Poland’s new government in November by the conservative Law and Justice (PiS) party. Last April, the previous Cabinet decided to order 60 multi-role helos from Airbus Helicopters to replace the Polish military’s Soviet-designed Mil Mi-8, Mi-14 and Mi-17 copters.
Sikorsky’s local subsidiary PZL Mielec makes the Black Hawk, while AgustaWestland’s PZL Swidnik offshoot produces the AW149.
defensenews

Slovak 'Hip' replacement settles on nine Black Hawks

Slovakia announced on 29 April that it will buy nine Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawk medium-lift utility helicopters.
The MoD will procure the helicopters via the US Department of Defense's Foreign Military Sales (FMS) programme. The procurement price will include full life-cycle support for the aircraft as well as training for aircrews and ground personnel.
janes

Afghanistan rolls out armed MD 530F helos

The Afghan Air Force (AAF) has rolled out into service its newly delivered armed MD Helicopters Inc (MDHI) MD 530F helicopters.
The roll-out ceremony took place at Kabul International Airport on 9 April, and saw one of the first six helicopters delivered perform a live-fire demonstration of its twin FN Herstal Heavy Machine Gun Pods (HMPs).
The arrival of the armed MD 530Fs into AAF service will provide a timely boost to the government's close air support capabilities ahead of the 2015 'fighting season' in the country. Between 17 and 20 such helicopters are expected to be fully operational by early 2016.
Once in service, they will augment machine gun-equipped Mil Mi-17 'Hip' and machine gun- and rocket-equipped Mi-35 'Hind' helicopters, as well as the Embraer A-29 Super Tucano light attack turboprop aircraft that is due to arrive towards the end of 2015.
The AAF already operates five MD 530F helicopters as trainers (six were delivered in 2011, but one was lost to an improvised explosive device in 2013).
janes

Nigerian Air Force receiving additional Alpha Jets

The Nigerian Air Force has acquired at least two second hand Alpha Jet aircraft as it continues to expand its aerial fleet.
One of the jets was seen passing through the United Kingdom on 25 March, having travelled from the United States via Iceland. It then continued to Palma de Mallorca, Spain, on its way to Nigeria.
It was flown by Air USA Inc, which specialises in military air combat readiness training and flies Hawks, Alpha Jets, MiG-29s and L-59 Super Albatroses. The Alpha Jet seen transiting the UK was cancelled from the United States register on 19 March together with a second Alpha Jet, both originally flown by the Luftwaffe before operating in the States.
The delivery status of the second aircraft is unclear. It is also not clear if the two Alpha Jets are attrition replacements or part of a larger batch being acquired by the Nigerian Air Force (NAF).
Air USA Alpha Jets were converted for night vision goggle (NVG) operations, according to the company, and flight certified for operational use of TER, IMER and SUU-20 bomb racks.
Nigerian Alpha Jets have been used in the ground attack role to strike Boko Haram targets and a couple have been lost on operations.
The NAF has recently reactivated a number of its Alpha Jets. A total of 24 were acquired in the 1980s but several have been lost in crashes. Apparently 11 have been made flyable again.
In addition to refurbishing some of its existing aircraft such as the Alpha Jets, L-39s, Super Pumas and C-130s, the NAF is also acquiring additional platforms. For instance, it recently inducted Gazelle helicopters, which are believed to have entered service in February this year.
Three Beechcraft King Air 350i light transport aircraft were delivered in August last year, together with two AgustaWestland AW101 VIP transport helicopters. The NAF is also acquiring six Mi-35M attack helicopters and 12 armed Mi-171Sh helicopters, which were ordered in August 2014.
defenceweb

Sikorsky willing to supply S-92 VVIP helicopters to India

Sikorsky, is keen to sell VVIP transport helicopters to the Indian government.
India cancelled a deal for 12 VVIP helicopters with Italian Finmeccanica's last year over a corruption scandal.
Industry sources in India expect a new tender this year. Sikorsky, which pitched its S-92 helicopter but lost to AgustaWestland in the initial tender, could take part once again.
India needs 12 helicopters to replace its Russia-made Mi-8 aircraft. After the cancellation of the AW101 order, it modified some of its Mi-17 helicopters for VVIP missions.
Russian Helicopters could also bid for a new contract using Mi-17s while Airbus Helicopters could enter the fray with its EC225.
In May 2014, Sikorsky won an initial contract to develop and build six U.S. presidential helicopters, the first step toward a fleet of 21 new aircraft by 2023.
reuters

Afghanistan to receive additional armed MD 530F helos

Afghanistan Air Force is to receive 20 armed MD 530F Cayuse Warrior helicopters to provide additional fire-support to the country's security forces.
The United States is to donate the 20 armed MD 530F helicopters in addition to those unarmed platforms already fielded as trainers.
Afghanistan has five MD 530F trainer helicopters in service. It would seem that a further eight platforms have now been added to this follow-on order.
The MD 530Fs will be equipped with gun pods and rockets, and will be armoured to protect the two crew members. The weapons package will comprise the FN Herstal Heavy Machine Gun Pod (HMP), featuring the company's M3 12.7 mm (.50 calibre) machine gun. This HMP, which will be carried on external weapons planks, has a rate of fire of 1,100 rds/min and a 400-round ammunition box.
To accommodate the extra weight of this equipment, the helicopters will be upgraded with high-capacity landing gear.
Work to weaponise these helicopters will commence shortly. Deliveries to Afghanistan are expected to begin later in the year. Once in service, these armed MD 530F platforms will provide fire-support alongside the machine-gun-equipped Mil Mi-17 'Hip' and machine gun and rocket-equipped Mi-35 'Hind' helicopters, as well as the Embraer A-29 Super Tucano light attack turboprop aircraft, due to arrive towards the end of 2015.
The MD 530F is the latest in a line of MD 500-series helicopters that trace their lineage back to the Hughes OH-6 Cayuse of the Vietnam War.
janes

Slovakia considering US Black Hawk offer

Slovakia is seriously considering an offer proposed by the US government to procure nine Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters from the US via the Foreign Military Sales (FMS) programme.
Slovakia is seeking to replace its fleet of Russian-made Mi-17 'Hip' medium transport helicopters because of the cost of their maintenance and to reduce dependence on supplies of spare parts from Russia.
In September the MoD announced plans to procure two Alenia C-27J Spartan transport aircraft. The MoD is now looking to retire its MiG-29 'Fulcrum' fighters and Mi-17 helicopters, and replace them with Western aircraft.
janes

Peru receives first deliveries of latest Mi-171Sh helicopters

Russian Helicopters has handed over the first batch of four Mil Mi-171Sh transport utility rotorcraft to Peru for use by its army.
Part of a 24-unit order placed by Peru in December 2013, the helicopters were handed over a month ahead of schedule.
A further four helicopters will be delivered this year, with the remainder following in 2015.
Peru will additionally establish a maintenance facility dedicated to Russian types.
Its three services already operate a combined fleet of 36 Mi-8/17s, alongside 16 Mi-25/35 attack helicopters flown by the air force.
flightglobal

Russia delivers final Mi-17 US-bought transport helicopter to Afghan army

Russia has delivered the last of 63 Mil Mi-17 transport helicopter purchased by the US Defense Department on behalf of the Afghan National Army.
The US Defense Department signed a contract in 2011 with Rosoboronexport,for the Mil Mi-17 helicopters.
Delivery of the aircraft continued through a volatile period in US-Russian relations. The deal was assailed in the US Congress because of Russia’s support of the Bashar Assad regime in the Syrian civil war and Russia's annexation of Crimea following political unrest in Ukraine.
The United States already has paid for the Afghan army to receive another 82 aircraft in the ongoing effort to train and equip the force prior to the planned US withdrawal that has been pushed from 2014 into the following year.
Embraer in September delivered the first of 20 A-29 Super Tucano light attack aircraft under the light air support (LAS) programme designed to provide US allies with an anti-insurgency fighter. The contract is for 20 aircraft that will first deliver to the USAF and then to Afghan security forces once a cadre of pilots is trained on US soil.
The United States also has paid for 62 MD Helicopters MD-530 civilian aircraft.

Russia, Nigeria Sign Contract for Mi-171Sh, Mi-35 Helicopters

Russia and Nigeria have signed a contract for the supply of Mi-171Sh and Mi-35 helicopters, Rosoboronexport deputy general director told reporters Friday.
ria.ru

Peru orders additional Mi-171Sh helos to combat Shining Path

Peru is to acquire a further eight Mil Mi-17 'Hip' transport and assault helicopters to complement the 24 ordered in late 2013.
The Mi-171Sh-variant helicopters are to be used for counterinsurgency (COIN) operations against the Shining Path insurgent group.
While both the Peruvian Air Force and Army field the Mi-171Sh (three helicopters each), this latest batch will reportedly be operated by the air force.
The first helicopters from this previous order will arrive in Peru in the second half of 2014, with the remainder following in 2015. No timeline was provided for the follow-on order of eight helicopters.
In July 2010 the Peruvian Ministry of Defence (MoD) announced that it was buying six Mi-171Sh and two Mi-35P 'Hind' attack helicopters to augment the seven Mi-24/25 'Hind' and eight Mi-17 helicopters that had been in service since 1983 and 1984 respectively.
Both Mi-35P 'Hind' attack helicopters were delivered in April 2011, with the Mi-171s arriving in two separate batches in May and September of the same year. While the Mi-171s have been shared equally between the air force and the army, both Mi-35s joined the air force.
janes

Russia Deliveres Last Batch of Mi-171E Helicopters to China

Russia delivered the last batch of Mi-171E transport helicopters built at the Ulan-Ude Aviation Plant to Chinese company Poly Technologies.
It's the last batch under a contract for 48 helicopters signed in 2012 by the Chinese company and Russia's arms exporter Rosoboronexport. In total, with additional contracts, 52 helicopters were delivered.
China currently operates more than 160 Mi-171 helicopters.
ria.ru

Russia delivers another three Mi-17V-5 helicopters to Afghanistan

Another batch of three Mi-17V-5 has been delivered to Afghanistan under the contract with the US Department of Defense. Russia has yet to deliver four batches of the Mi-17V-5 military-transport helicopters with three aircraft in each.
The transportation of all the helicopters from Russia is made to Kabul by Antonov An-124, that delivers to Afghanistan three helicopters in one flight.
At the moment, 51 helicopters have been supplied to Afghanistan
itar-tass

Hungarian Air Force To Issue Helo Tender to replace MI-17

Hungary is planning to issue a tender for a fleet of new helicopters later this year for its air arm.
The country has a national requirement for a fleet of light and medium helicopters not only for the air force but also for use by paramilitary organizations for missions such as search and rescue.
The air force has a need to replace the current fleet of 10 Russian-built Mil Mi-17s and Mi-8s, which the air arm is struggling to maintain and get parts for. The shortfall was partially alleviated with the recent arrival of a trio of secondhand Mi-8s from Russia.
Back in December 2011, the U.S. offered to donate 32 former Marine Corps UH-1N Hueys for use by the Hungarian armed forces, but when officials studied the deal and the likely maintenance cost of the aircraft, they reported that the country would be better off buying new, modern helicopters instead.
Last year the air force also unexpectedly retired its fleet of Mi-24 attack helicopters, now in storage.
The air force is also looking at options to replace its pair of aging Antonov An-26 transport aircraft, but the helicopters will be the first fleet to be renewed.
The country also has great ambitions for its small fleet of Saab JAS 39 Gripens, which are leased from Sweden.
Hungary has 12 single-seat JAS 39s and a pair of twin-seat JAS 39Ds used for training that entered service in 2006. Currently the air force mainly uses the aircraft for quick-reaction alert, defending the airspace of Hungary but also Northern Slovenia. They also have a limited ground-attack role with the AGM-65 Maverick.
aviationweek

Mexican Air Force modernising and expanding Mi-17 fleet

From mid-June to early July at least two Antonov An-124-100 transports ferried at least nine Mexican Air Force (Fuerza Aérea Mexicana - FAM) Mi-17 Hip helicopters to a Russian Helicopters facility, where they will go through a comprehensive modernisation programme with re-deliveries scheduled to begin in 2015.
As of May 2014, the FAM announced it operated 19 Mi-17s along with two Mi-8Ts. It's understood that all surviving Mi-17s are to undergo the modernisation process.
Mexico originally procured 24 Mi-17 Hip-H transport helicopters in two batches of 12 each in 1996 and 1998 - with deliveries ending in 1999 - as well as 12 secondhand Mi-8T Hip-C cargo versions that have been deactivated and replaced with a similar number of Airbus Helicopter EC725s.
janes

Bangladesh Navy to receive K-8W, Mi-171Sh aircraft

The Bangladesh Navy will take delivery of nine K-8W training aircraft from China by the end of 2014.
The K-8W aircraft will be used to train pilots at the naval aviation command in Chittagong. The aircraft is currently is service with the Bolivian and Venezuelan air forces.
Besides the K-8W aircraft, the Bangladesh Navy is also anticipating the delivery of five Mi-171Sh multirole medium helicopters. The aircraft were procured from Russia under are likely to be inducted by 2015 for maritime surveillance and search-and-rescue operations.
The Bangladesh Navy established a naval aviation command in July 2011 to strengthen its maritime capabilities, with an initial force of two AgustaWestland AW109 helicopters. Since then, it has taken delivery of two Dornier 228 NG maritime patrol aircraft and is now awaiting the delivery of three Harbin Z-9 helicopters from China, and the five Russian Mi-171Sh helicopters.
The delivery of nine K-8W trainers may also signal the navy's intent of ultimately operating jet-powered fixed-wing aircraft.
janes

Peru to Get 8 Mi-17 Helicopters in November

Peru's Air Force will receive a delivery of eight new Russian-made helicopters in November, with an additional 16 to come in 2015.
The Mi-171Sh multi-purpose helicopters were sold to Peru in December, and are likely to replace the eight Mi-17 transport helicopters that were sold to Peru in 1984.
The Peruvian government has set aside $11 million to repair and refit the three Mi-171s it bought in 2010, and an additional $2.8 million to overhaul the presidential transport Mi-17-1B.
Russia will build a maintenance and repair center for the helicopters in Peru by 2016. Peru will be able to offer the services of this center to other countries in the region that own Russian helicopters and aircraft like the Su-25 fighter jet.
themoscowtimes

Thailand to Receive First UH-72A in April 2015

Airbus has produced the first of six UH-72A for the Royal Thai Army. The aircraft will be delivered in December to the US Army, which will transfer it to Thai Army. The remaining five aircraft will be built in 2015.
Thailand requested six UH-72As through the Foreign Military Sales (FMS) process in 2013. The contract would be the first international sale of the aircraft, a variant of the EC145 civil helicopter.
Thailand is recapitalising its rotary wing fleet. In February 2011 it acquired three Mil Mi-17V-5, with three further helicopters ordered. In October 2012 the Thai Army signed a contract for two AgustaWestland AW139s for transport and utility missions with delivery set for this year.
In August 2009 the U.S. Defense Security Co-operation Agency announced an FMS of three UH-60L aircraft, while in March 2010 the Thai government approved a proposal to purchase three UH-60Ms. In October 2011, the Thai Cabinet approved a plan to procure two further Black Hawks.
defense-studies