Pakistan receives Mi-171E convertible helicopter from Russian firm in Balochistan

Moscow: Pakistan’s restive Balochistan province has received a Mi-171E non-combat helicopter from a Russian firm, the second such chopper delivered to the country this year, a media report has said. The Mi-171 is a civilian variant of the Mi-17 military cargo helicopter, which is already in service in the Pakistan Army. [caption id=“attachment_3846425” align=“alignleft” width=“380”] Representational image. Getty Images[/caption] “I am confident the convertible Mi-171E handed over to the customer will perform decently when accomplishing any missions, whether in passenger and freight carriage or in medical, search and rescue operations,” Chief Executive Officer of Russian Helicopters Andrei Boginsky was quoted as saying by the Russia’s TASS news agency. In the case of a medical emergency, the chopper can be used as an ambulance as it has the capacity to carry 14 stretchers if seats are replaced. Russian Helicopters made the helicopter supply contract with the government of Balochistan province in December 2016. The helicopter was built in the convertible option. The helicopter cabin can be converted from a freight one to a VIP cabin with 13 seats and a flight attendant at customer’s option within the short period. Mi-171E can carry up to 27 passengers and up to four tonnes of cargo inside the cabin or on the external suspension in its transport version. Three points for direct deployment provide quick landing of paratroopers and rescuers when the helicopter is hovering, it said. The Mi-17 is widely used across the world due to its reliability and ability to operate in all climates and could be used by the provincial government to transport cargo or passengers or as an emergency response aircraft. Russian Helicopters has sold Mi-171E helicopters to several countries, including China. Balochistan has also been facing insurgency by Baloch nationalists and Islamist militants. Earlier this year, on 13 February, a blast took place near the Saryab Bridge in Karachi killing two personnel of the bomb disposal squad and leaving 11 injured.