Guns in the sky: Mi-171SH transferred Italian howitzers to Bangladesh

The basis of the helicopter fleet of the Bangladesh Air Force is made up of Russian-made machines, there are almost two dozen units in total.

The Mi-17, Mi-171 and Mi-172 are used for various tasks, including providing fire support. To do this, they hang blocks for launching unguided aircraft missiles capable of hitting targets at a distance of 4000 - 6000 meters, depending on the modification.

Bombs of various calibers, containers with 23-mm rapid-fire guns, 7.62-mm PK machine guns are used against the enemy.

It is possible to transport up to 36 servicemen, 12 wounded on stretchers, 4000 kg of cargo inside the cabin and the same amount on an external suspension. The latter is actively used in the Bangladesh Air Force, for example, various types of weapons are transferred in this way during exercises, such as the Italian 105-mm Melara Model 56 howitzers weighing 1290 kg, which are in service with mobile units.

By the way, in the Russian armed forces, three-ton D - 30 howitzers and UAZ-3151 all - terrain vehicles delivered turntables at the large-scale command and staff exercises "Center-2019".

The maximum take-off weight of the" seventeen " reaches 13,000 kg. Cruising speed-230 km / h. The maximum speed is 250 km/h. The flight range is 580 km, with two additional fuel tanks-1065 km. The practical ceiling is 6000 m. The crew consists of 3 people.

Helicopters are equipped with additional armor, equipment for shooting false thermal targets, disorienting missile guidance heads of air defense systems. Such protection is very important during the implementation of peacekeeping missions, which often involve the military of this South Asian state.

Alexey Moiseev