As announced last month by Zona Militar, the National Army of Colombia is making steady progress in the overhaul and recovery of its fleet of Mil Mi-17 helicopters of Russian origin, through a contract with the U.S. company VSC. As part of this agreement, the necessary spare parts were acquired for the repair, reconstruction, and maintenance of these important aircraft, which provide unparalleled service in Colombian territory. The work will be carried out in conjunction with Army Aviation Brigade No. 32 for Support and Sustainment.
According to a press release, the plan for this year is to have eleven (11) helicopters in operation: five (5) currently operational and two batches of three helicopters in each semester of the year, which will undergo maintenance. Thus, from January to date, the current status is as follows: one is about to fly, another is in flight testing, and a third remains under maintenance. Another three aircraft will begin work in July and August, with delivery expected in December.
Regarding this, Colonel Julián Ferney Rincón Ricaurte, commander of Army Aviation Brigade No. 32 “Support and Sustainment,” stated: “The relevance of the Mi-17 lies in its load capacity, weight, and volume. It is an ideal aircraft for transporting supplies, weapons, ammunition, and troops to remote areas of our geography,” adding that “this process represents a technical recovery and a key step to strengthen our operational capacity. The Mi-17s remain a strategic pillar in fulfilling our mission across the national territory.”
This helicopter flies an average of 250 to 300 hours per year, meaning that maintenance of these three aircraft will result in an increase of 750 flight hours for 2025, which will undoubtedly support the Army’s transport and logistics tasks more efficiently. This suggests that other aircraft currently performing Mi-17 duties will be freed up, and it is also important to note that these other aircraft consume more flight hours and have less range than the Russian helicopters when performing the same tasks.
In addition to their purely military role, these aircraft provide vital support in response to natural disasters. They are the main means for fighting and extinguishing fires in Colombia, where such events are frequent, and have also supported avalanche and flood response efforts due to their high load capacity, flight altitude, and range.
With this contract, 40% of the entire fleet will be restored, although it is clear that additional contracts will be needed to bring the full Mi-17 fleet back to operational status. The press release also stated: “During the period when several Mi-17s were out of service, UH-60 and Bell helicopters took over essential missions, ensuring operational continuity. However, the progressive return of the Mi-17s represents a significant strengthening of the National Army’s strategic capabilities.”
Undoubtedly, this is an important step for Army aviation and a clear demonstration of how procurement and maintenance processes should be carried out within the armed forces. Albeit late, it is a valuable precedent to consider for future contracts.
*Original text written in Spanish by Cesar Fernando Cepeda Bernal
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