New Delhi: The primary of the Indian Air Pressure’s three iconic Mi-26 heavy-lift helicopters generally known as Halo, is about to fly to Russia in about six months to bear intensive overhaul and repairs that’s anticipated to increase its life by one other 10-15 years, ThePrint has learnt.

The transfer will allow the IAF to function the Russian-made world’s largest heavy-lift helicopters along with the American Chinook choppers which can be being at present inducted, giving it an unprecedented tactical carry functionality.

As soon as the method is full, India will develop into the primary nation to have a simultaneous stock of each Mi-26s and Chinooks.

Chatting with ThePrint, senior authorities officers mentioned the Ministry of Defence lastly cleared the file for the overhauling of the three Mi-26 helicopters in August.

To be serviced in rotation, sources mentioned, the choppers at the moment are being readied in order that they’re in a situation to fly to Russia.

Servicing every Mi-26 helicopter is prone to take anyplace between a yr and a year-and-a-half. The second chopper would fly to Russia for the overhaul as soon as the primary one is again. Subsequently, the third one could be dispatched, mentioned an official who didn’t want to be named.

It will take every chopper about three weeks to succeed in Russia.

The overhaul will prolong the lifetime of the choppers by 10-15 years. Upon return, the Mi-26 can be made operational to fly to distant areas of Jammu and Kashmir and the Northeast, added the sources.

All three Halo choppers are at present non-operational. Two of them had been grounded in September 2013 and August 2014, respectively, whereas the third chopper final flew in 2017.

The Halo Historical Past

The IAF had proposed overhauling the choppers virtually three years in the past and was awaiting clearance from the defence ministry. The delay had led to hypothesis in some quarters on whether or not the Mi-26 chopper fleet could be grounded altogether.

India was one of many earliest patrons of the Mi-26 helicopter when it was launched within the early 1980s by the erstwhile Soviet Union. 4 Mi-26 helicopters had been inducted into the IAF between 1986 and 1989, of which one crashed on the Jammu airport in 2010.

The transfer to overtake the Mi-26s comes at the same time as 15 US-made Chinook helicopters had been purchased by the IAF — of which 4 have been inducted — to switch the Russian choppers.

Powered by twin turboshaft engines, the Mi-26 helicopter weighs round 28,200 kg and its most take-off weight is 56,000 kg.

The Mi26 heavy-lift Halos have served a significant function in lifting and transporting artillery weapons, bridges, missiles and different tools to far-flung areas of Northeast and Jammu and Kashmir, in addition to throughout evacuations.

The Repairs Course of

Chatting with ThePrint, a senior IAF officer defined that overhauling of the chopper will embody checking the integrity of the airframe and fatigue checks, significantly the load bearing areas, and contain changing the main elements which have accomplished their lives.

“Moreover, the engines would be checked, and parts like the turbine blades or the seals would be replaced with fresh ones. The avionics components would also be checked to see if any part needs to be replaced,” mentioned the officer.

Owing to its small fleet, fewer pilots and technical personnel are skilled for the Mi-26 choppers. Consequently, getting ready every chopper for a flight will take about six months, added the officer.

The Mi-26 choppers are a part of the Chandigarh-based No. 126 Helicopter Flight (Featherweights) squadron.

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