Russian helicopters has announced that it will refuse service support for the Afghan Air Force Mi-17V-5 helicopter recently overhauled by Slovakian company, LOTN.

“Due to the received information on the unauthorized overhaul of one Mi-17V-5 helicopter of the Defense Ministry of Afghanistan by the Slovak Aircraft repair company LOTN, JSC “Russian Helicopters” in the name of the designer (JSC “Mil Moscow Helicopter Plant”) and the manufacturer (PJSC “Kazan Helicopters”) disclaims all liability for the further safe operation of this rotorcraft and has good reason to refuse to provide service support for this helicopter’s operation”, said the company in a statement.

Overhaul of the said Mi-17V-5 helicopter was performed at the Slovak repair facility which had not mastered the overhaul of this type of rotorcraft in due order, the statement claimed.

“Moreover, the overhaul was carried out under the repair/overhaul documentation developed by LOTN without the participation and supervision of the designer and manufacturer. Updated overhaul and design documentation for the military-transport Mi-17V-5 helicopter, spare parts and group kits for overhaul were never supplied to the aircraft repair company in question.”

“JSC “Russian Helicopters” shall notify all Russian and international agencies and entities concerned on the enrollment of the Slovak Aircraft repair company LOTN on the list of aircraft repair facilities performing unauthorized overhaul of military-transport rotorcraft of Mi-17V-5 type”, the statement added.

It was announced last month that Slovakia’s LOTN (Letecké opravovne Trenčín, Aircraft Repair Company Trenčín) had completed the general overhaul of the first Afghan Air Force (AAF) Mi-17V-5 helicopter.

LOTN statement claimed that the company was awarded the AAF Mi-17V-5 Helicopter Overhaul and Heavy Repair Contract by the NATO Support and Procurement Agency (NSPA) through full and open international competitive bidding (ICB) in 2016. The delivery of the first overhauled helicopter took place in July 28.

LOTN added that further deliveries of the overhauled helicopters of this type to Afghanistan are scheduled for next year.





