Mi-171 (China) - Come dance with us

[kololz 600]

Pictured above is a Chinese Mi-171 armed with 108 57mm rockets distributed in 6 rocket pods.

 

Hello guys, today I am suggesting a new replacement starter helicopter for China - A Mi-171 transport helicopter armed with exclusively and only rockets! 

While that might not be as flavourful and utilitarian as the Z-11WA, this may also give our beloved helicopter a chance to receive better armaments and to prove itself at a higher BR, especially considering that Z-11WA has thermal imaging on it. In fact, I would consider this helicopter much better than the Italian/Japanese starter Hueys, as this helicopter possess the capability to carry more rockets.

 

Introduction
After the fall of Soviet Union, Mi-171 was introduced by the Russian Federation as one of their export utility helicopters. The helicopter itself is a direct export version of the Russian Mi-8AMT, which itself is a slightly modified Mi-8MTV produced in the Ulan-Ude Aviation Plant instead of the Kazan Helicopters. In 2007, the last batch of Mi-171 built in Ulan-Ude were delievered to China, and in that same year production of further Mi-171 helicopters was started at Sichuan, China.

 

Iin the mid-2000s, images of an armed Chinese Mi-171 circulated on the internet.  

 

Since the Mi-171 delievered by Ulan-Ude were all intended for civilian/general purposes, it is likely that these armed variants were modified by the Sichuan Helicopter Plant to carry rocket pods on each side.

 

Further history for Chinese Mi-17/171s (and subsequent variants)

Spoiler

Ever since the formation of Russian Federation, China has been an active buyer of Russian Mi-17V/Mi-171 helicopters as a transport and search and rescue helicopter.

 

While the last batch of Chinese Mi-171 were delievered in 2007, the story of Chinese Mi-171s did not end here. After finding out the weakness of Mi-171 on mountainous regions, China realized they needed a better engine instead of the original Klimov TV3-117VM. Therefore, their military looked to Rosoboronexport again to acquire the newer Mi-171E, which is equipped with the rugged VK-2500-03 engine that can withstand mountainous temperatures. Orders for the Mi-171E were signed separately at 2009 and 2012.

 

And for the plant in Sichuan, aside from arming the Mi-171 helicopters, they also helped with modernizing older Mi-17/Mi-17Vs into Mi-171. Little to none was known whether the Sichuan Plant has domestically produced brand-new Mi-171, although it is certain it possesses the capability to assemble new Mi-171 with Russian-supplied parts.

 

Nowadays, armed Mi-171s were no longer to be seen in China, although in 2019 China had signed a deal with Russia to import Russian-made Mi-171Sh (along with more Mi-171A2). Mi-171Sh is an armoured and armed version of Mi-171, based on the Mi-8AMTSh assault transport. You can see its suggestion on the USSR helicopters forums. 

 

Starting from 2020, older Mi-171 helicopters are in the process of being replaced by newer Z-20 helicopters. China still retains a fleet of newer Mi-171E/Mi-171Sh helicopters, but it is likely that China will now favour Z-20 over the original Mi-171 as a utility helicopter.

 

Among the years of history, China has operated Mi-17, Mi-17V-1, Mi-171, Mi-17V-5, Mi-171E and Mi-171Sh. This suggestion is exclusively about the Chinese Mi-171, but it is likely that China has every single variant of these helicopters armed. Moreover, the Chinese helicopter plant in Sichuan has likely converted many different Mi-17 variants into the Ulan-Ude Mi-171 standard for standardized maintenance.

 

Armament

Spoiler

 

Hardpoints: 6 (3 on left, 3 on right)

Weapons carried: 18x 57mm 57-1 rocket pod / 7x 70mm FS70 rocket pod / 7x 90mm 90-1 rocket pod

 

Specifications

Spoiler

Basic Information

Country of Origin: Russia/China

Enter service: Mid-2000s (Armed Variant)

Crew: 2 pilots

 

Dimensions

Length: 25.35m (with rotors)/18.42m (without rotors)

Main rotor diameter: 21.29m

Tail rotor diameter: 3.9m

Height: 5.54m

Empty weight: 7.055t

Takeoff weight: 13.011t

Maximal external load: 3.0t

 

Mobility

Powerplant: 2x TV3-117VM (2070hp each)

Maximum speed: 250km/h

Cruising speed: 230km/h

Service ceiling: 5000m

Maximum range: 250km

 

ECM Pod

Spoiler

 

Chinese Mi-171 also have the capability to carry ECM pods on its armed versions. It is unknown whether this is the newer Mi-171Sh or mounted on the same modified version of original Mi-171. In theory, this ECM pod can jam and confuse Radar signals, making the helicopter more resilient against enemy radar installations, including enemy radar-assisted anti-aircraft batteries.

 

Extra Images

Spoiler

 

 

 

 

 

 

Last pic is likely a Chinese Mi-17V-5.

 

Sources

Spoiler

1. https://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/china/mi-171.htm
2. http://jczs.news.sina.com.cn/p/2006-10-24/0755406324.html (Chinese source - Chinese Mi-171 already used rockets since 2005. Likely mislabeled as Mi-17 since information about Mi-17 variants was pretty censored back then.)
3. http://www.fbo.cn/feijidetails.aspx?id=136  (Chinese source) - Thanks to Thatz!
4. https://mil.news.sina.com.cn/zhengming/2020-11-20/doc-iiznctke2436444.shtml (Chinese source)
5. https://baike.baidu.hk/item/米-171直升機/3212302 (Chinese source)
6. http://mil.news.sina.com.cn/2013-01-01/1102711322.html (Chinese source)
7. https://www.airshow.com.cn/Item/11526.aspx (Chinese source)
8. http://roe.ru/eng/catalog/aerospace-systems/helicopters/mi-171sh/ (Mi-171Sh specs for reference)
9. https://www.airforce-technology.com/news/newsrosobornexport-mi-171e-china (Source for Chinese Mi-171 history)

 

If you like to see more Mi-8 helicopters, check out the suggestion made by these two fellas!

 

 

 

Edited November 29, 2022 by kololz

[Thatz 637]

 Open for discussion 

[JamesPond1200@psn 299]

Would be interesting for sure! Maybe as a premium? +1

[FumesYanR_0110 19]

+1

[不是很能抗压 1,265]

emmmm...maybe there will be some fun, but i say no.

[kololz 600]

8 hours ago, JamesPond1200@psn said:

Would be interesting for sure! Maybe as a premium? +1

 

Oh I haven't considered the possibility to include that option in polls. My fault haha

But I am more inclined to include it on regular tech tree, since China could definite use a rocket helicopter at 8.0 to enhance its ZTZ59/69 lineup.

 

7 hours ago, ZERO_OLYH said:

emmmm...maybe there will be some fun, but i say no.

 

Why? Compared to the Z-5 with only 20-ish rockets, Mi-171 has way more rockets, with much better mobility and maneuverability to put that rocket armament into work. Compared to the likes of AH-1G, UH-1B or AB205, Mi-171 does not lose out a lot in that regard.

 

Plus the HJ-8A/HJ-8C found on Gazelle/Z-11WA/Z-9W is fairly disappointing missile anyway. I think at this battle rating, 40+ rockets might be more tempting than only 4 of those weak missiles.

 

-----

By the way @Thatz, I just saw you termed it Mi-171Sh in the "List of Previously Suggested Idea" post. Just a heads up, Chinese Mi-171Sh should look like this (with low-vis grey camo ) 

 

 

 

Edited November 29, 2022 by kololz

[不是很能抗压 1,265]

2 minutes ago, kololz said:

Why? Compared to the Z-5 with only 30-ish rockets, Mi-171 has way more rockets, with much better mobility and maneuverability to put that rocket armament into work. Compared to the likes of AH-1G, UH-1B or AB205, Mi-171 does not lose out a lot in that regard.

Personal tendency, maybe add it after nothing better.

[kololz 600]

Updated with extra images.

 

Spoiler

 

 

 

 

 

 

Last pic is a Chinese Mi-17V-5.

 

Edited November 29, 2022 by kololz

[Thatz 637]

@kololz so which version of the mi 171 is this suggestion about?

[kololz 600]

16 minutes ago, Thatz said:

@kololz so which version of the mi 171 is this suggestion about?

Mi-171

 

Thats the version

Edited November 29, 2022 by kololz

[Thatz 637]

1 hour ago, kololz said:

Mi-171

 

Thats the version

Is the generic Mi-171 armed? I thought it was just the Mi-171E and Mi-171Sh If you were trying to make a family suggestion you need to provide more information of all the Mi-171 varients, what makes them stand out from each other and specs etc.
 

 

[Thatz 637]

@kololzAfter looking into it a bit more I found a source that backs you up on it being just the Mi-171. It states (this is direct google translate so there will be issues but the general concept is still there).
 

Quote

 In addition, in order to supplement the current shortage of armed attack helicopters in our army, a research institute of our air force has developed a certain type of helicopter rocket nest pylon and fire control system, which are used to refit the original imported Mi-17 and Mi-171 military transport helicopters. After adding three 57mm aviation uncontrolled rocket launchers to one side of the helicopter, the imported Mi-17 and Mi-171 military transport helicopters can be transformed into 6 rocket launchers [18 bombs per nest], a total of 108 rockets Attack transport helicopter with rockets.
       The Mi 17 and Mi 171 military transport helicopters of our Army Aviation attack transport helicopters. The rocket pods are equipped with domestic 57mm-1/2 rockets: the total length is 0.82 meters, and the 6-wing folding stabilized tail device is used. The wingspan is 0.23 meters, the bomb weighs 3.86-3.97 kilograms, the warhead is 1.38 kilograms, and the maximum speed is Mach 2. It can attack targets at 5000 meters away.
Source:

http://www.fbo.cn/feijidetails.aspx?id=136 

I will change the listing on the previously suggested from Mi-171SH to Mi-171, sorry for all the confusion and thank you for pointing it out to me that it was a different model.

Edited November 29, 2022 by Thatz

[kololz 600]

28 minutes ago, Thatz said:

Is the generic Mi-171 armed? I thought it was just the Mi-171E and Mi-171Sh If you were trying to make a family suggestion you need to provide more information of all the Mi-171 varients, what makes them stand out from each other and specs etc.

I think I included too much information in the introduction when I am writing this post. I will be rephrasing it to make it only about the generic Mi-171. But yes, it’s about the base armed model of Mi-171.

 

Thanks for the heads up 

[Milocat 4,857]

+1, why not?  Looks like a nice helicopter to add.  Only having rockets kinda bites but you get a whole bunch.