US demonstrates Mi-17 helicopters designated for Ukraine

The Armed Forces of Ukraine received Mi-17 multi-purpose transport helicopters from the United States. The helicopters were previously designated for the Air Force of Afghanistan.

The photos were published by the Defense Visual Information Distribution Service of the US Department of Defense.

Helicopters are shipped to Ukraine by C-17 Globemaster III military transport aircraft from Davis-Monthan base in Arizona.

Transport aircraft belong to the 167th Airlift Wing of the United States Air Force.

The Pentagon supplies Mi-17 multi-purpose transport helicopters to the Ukrainian military as defense assistance to counteract Russia’s aggression.

20 Mi-17 helicopters are included in the US security assistance package for Ukraine. Some of the helicopters were delivered earlier and they are already flying in the Ukrainian sky.

Published photos were taken prior to their shipment to Ukraine, in April of this year.

The Armed Forces of Ukraine have already begun using the Russian-made Mi-17 helicopters provided by the United States.

On April 13, the United States announced another $800 million aid package to Ukraine, which included 11 helicopters.

The United States provides Ukraine with aircraft equipment previously operated or designated for the Afghanistan Air Force, which no longer exists.

About two dozen Mi-8/17 helicopters of the Afghanistan Air Force were located outside this country, and their fate remains unknown. In January, former “Afghan” helicopters were brought to the military base in Arizona.

Mi-17 is the export name of the Soviet Мі-8МТ multipurpose helicopter, developed by Mil Design Bureau in the early 1960s.