Two military-transport Mi-171Sh helicopters manufactured by Russian Helicopters Holding Company (part of Oboronprom Corporation and Rostec State Corporation) have been delivered to the Border Service of the Kazakhstan National Security Committee under a contract signed by Rosoboronexport in 2012, the company’s press-service reports.

“One of the primary objectives of the delivered helicopters is to protect Kazakhstan’s state border. The vehicles will be involved in patrol missions (in particular, at night time), landing of troops and transportation of personnel”, - the press-service noted.

The military-transport Mi-171Sh helicopter (also known as the Mi-8AMTSh – the version delivered to Russian customers) is manufactured by Ulan-Ude Aviation Plant (part of Russian Helicopters Holding Company). It can be fitted with cannons and small arms, unguided missiles and on-board defense systems. It is also fitted with special equipment for dropping off troops using four different points simultaneously. The helicopter is able to carry up to 36 soldiers or 12 wounded men on stretchers, or up to 4 tons of cargo inside the cabin or using an external sling. The helicopter is well-suited for carrying out search-and-rescue operations. The Mi-171Sh helicopters delivered to Kazakhstan are fitted with flight and navigation equipment and radio communication systems allowing them to perform flights under a wide range of operating conditions.

Kazakhstan has been successfully operating new Mi-8/17 Family helicopters for many years. Civil Mi-171E helicopters are operated by Kazaviaspas, part of Kazakh Ministry of Emergencies. In August 2013 Mi-171E helicopter was delivered to the Ministry of Internal Affairs. The new deliveries of Mi-171Sh helicopters helped extend the cooperation started in 2011-2013. Besides the abovementioned models, various Kazakh operators use a lot of other Mi-8/17 Family helicopters including the Mi-8MT, Mi-8MTV and Mi-17V-5, the press-service explained.

“Helicopter operators have highly appreciated Mi-8/17 Family vehicles thanks to their aircraft performance, flexibility, reliability and ease of operation. In the near term a civil Mi-8AMT helicopter will be delivered to the rescue service of Almaty. Russian Helicopters is one of the world’s leading manufacturers of military helicopters operated by the armed forces of many countries of the world. Military helicopters produced by the company are delivered to the foreign countries via Rosoboronexport”, - Russian Helicopters added.