Crash Record of Russia-made MI 17 chopper & MIGs could be a heavy burden to IAF in Future
_Vinayak Barot
New Delhi: The Indian Security forces which are heavily dependent on foreign weapons, choppers, and fighter jets especially on Russia-made – should use safe fighter jets and choppers to protect own selves from accidents.
The death of Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) General Bipin Rawat raised many questions on the Russian-made weapons and fighter jets and helicopters, which are already in use in the Indian Air Force.
Russian-Made Fighter Jets Accident Record in India
According to a media report, Bharat-Rakshak.com which is an aviation website that works closely with the IAF, there have been 57 aviation accidents in the last five years (2016 to May 2021) involving all arms of the military — IAF, Navy, Army, and Coast Guard. In 2016, there were 11 aviation accidents of the IAF but none included the MiG-21 Bison. However, a MiG-21 M and a MiG-21 UM crashed that year.
The year 2017 witnessed nine accidents, again none of which was that of the MiG-21 Bison. The IAF aircraft involved were two Su30 MKI, one MiG-23 UM, two Mi 17 choppers.
In 2018, of the 16 accidents, 12 were of the IAF. Among the 12, one MiG-21 Bison and a MiG-21 trainer aircraft crashed that year.
Two MiG-21 Bison aircraft crashed in 2019, including that of Wing Commander Varthaman, in a year that saw IAF suffer 14 aviation accidents.
No MiG-21 Bisons crashed in 2020 in which there were four accidents. One of the crashes involved a MiG-29 UPG.
Russian-Made Helicopter MI17 Accident Record in India
In the last nine years, seven Russian-made IAF Mi-series helicopters have crashed in India.
According to the statement given by the Defence Ministry at least 30 people have died in these crashes since 2012. On November 19, 2010, An Indian Air Force Mi-17 helicopter crashed near Tawang in Arunachal Pradesh, killing all 12 people on board. The helicopter had 11 Air Force personnel, including the crew, and one Army officer on board. It had taken off from Tawang for Guwahati and crashed about five minutes later at a place called Bomdir.
On August 30, 2012 — Two Mi-17 IAF helicopters collided and crashed over Sarmat village in Gujarat. The helicopters had taken off from Jamnagar airbase and were on a routine flying training mission. There was nine personnel onboard and all succumbed to injuries, the defense ministry had stated.
June 25, 2013 – on this data – India had registered another accident of an IAF Mi-17 V5 helicopter which was on a rescue mission from Gauchar to Guptkashi, and on return from Kedarnath, it crashed in the north of Gaurikund. Eight persons onboard, including five crew members, sustained fatal injuries.
October 6, 2017: Seven IAF personnel were killed when a Mi-17 V5 helicopter crashed in a high-altitude area near Tawang in Arunachal Pradesh while it was on a maintenance sortie. The post was not connected by any road.
April 3, 2018: An IAF Mi-17V5 helicopter, which was undertaking a state government task from Guptkashi to Kedarnath, crashed near Kedarnath. The accident occurred while the helicopter was landing near the helipad. All six crew members who were on board were safe.
February 27, 2019: A Mi-17V5 helicopter of the Indian Air Force got airborne from Srinagar airfield for a routine mission. The helicopter crashed within 10 minutes near Budgam in Jammu and Kashmir. All six air warriors on board suffered fatal injuries.
The last one and the latest accident of Russian-made helicopter MI17V5 in which India lost its Chief of Defence Staff Bipin Rawat and 13 others on board on Wednesday.
