Thailand receives two more Mil Mi-17V-5 medium helicopters from Russia

A Mil Mi-17V-5 medium helicopter of the Royal Thai Army. Photo c/o Militer.co.id.

In a report made by Jane’s Defence Weekly, it was known that the Royal Thai Army (RTA) received the two Russian-made Mil Mi-17V-5 Hip-H medium transport helicopters last December 2018. Jane’s received the said information from a source within the Royal Thai Army.

These helicopters were ordered on December 2017 and will be assigned with the RTA’s 41st Aviation Battalion.

Prior to this delivery, the RTA already operate five more Mil Mi-17V-5 ordered in 2008 and delivered in 2011. The new delivery would push the RTA’s inventory to 7 Mil Mi-17V-5. In 2017, the RTA also mentioned that they intend to acquire up to 12 Mi-17V-5 helicopters to eventually replace the Boeing CH-47D Chinook.

The Mi-17V-5 is produced by Russia’s Kazan Helicopters, and is used mostly for troop and materiel transport, search and rescue, and humanitarian & disaster relief operations.


[1] Jane’s Defence Weekly
[2] The Defense Blog
[3] Defense Industry Daily