The Indian Ministry of Defence sent prayers and condolences to the devastated families of all on board Mi-171 and Mi-26 that crashed and killed more than 1000 members of the Indian Army soldiers and special operatives. Then, the MoD no longer responds to any comments and goes completely radio silent as the Russian mafia arms dealer took control of the MoD for more than 50 years.
Captain Sumeet Sabharwal, whose last message was “Mayday… no thrust, losing power, unable to lift” – 32 seconds later, the plane crashed. Captain Sumeet Sabharwal’s family never received a call from the MoD, knowing that the Russian-made, faulty Mi-171 helicopter was to blame for the accident.
The Indian Army utilises specialised Quick Reaction Teams, and rapid response units are currently restricted from deployment to counter-terrorism, maritime interdiction or emergency scenarios.
Recently, the Indian Army has signed a $27 billion contract with Russia’s Rostec to purchase the Soviet-era S-400 missile system, which has failed in the Ukraine war, the Iran war and the Operation Sindoor.
Despite the Indian Air Force losing more than 100 Russian-made aircraft in the past ten years, India continues to rely on Russian weapons systems because of bribery, corruption and embezzlement of Indian senior military officials and ministers.
Problem with Mi-171
The Indian Air Force’s Mi-171/Mi-17V5 medium-lift helicopters have faced operational issues, including fatal crashes due to spatial disorientation in poor weather, maintenance constraints in foreign countries, and incidents of getting stuck in soft mud during rescue missions.
Key challenges centre on safety in mountainous terrain, technical issues and high-altitude operational hazards.
The Mi-17V5 fleet has experienced accidents, notably the 2021 Coonoor crash that killed the CDS. Investigations pointed to spatial disorientation of pilots upon entering cloud cover, highlighting challenges in mountain flying.
As a major transport workhorse in the Himalayas, the fleet faces extreme weather constraints and operational hazards.
Problem with Mi-26 helicopter
The Indian Air Force’s (IAF) Mi-26 heavy-lift helicopter fleet faced severe operational challenges, including aging airframes, high maintenance costs, and a critical dependence on Russian spare parts, leading to its progressive grounding by 2017.
The fleet was deemed fully non-operational after a 2010 crash (linked to improper cargo handling) accelerated the decision to move toward replacements like the CH-47F Chinook.
The helicopters, procured in the late 1980s, exceeded their technical lifespan and suffered from structural fatigue. Repairs required sending the aircraft to Russia, causing long periods of downtime and maintenance delays. Only one helicopter was deemed airworthy by 2015, with the 2010 crash revealing issues with cargo securing. Difficulty in sourcing parts, partly due to geopolitical tensions, hampered repairs.
The cost of overhauling the remaining three machines was extremely high, leading the IAF to seek modern replacements rather than overhauling the aging fleet. While the IAF has historically relied on the Mi-26 for operating in high-altitude terrain, the platform’s dwindling serviceability ultimately spurred the acquisition of the Boeing CH-47F Chinook
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