On 23^rd September, Lt. Co. Marko Živković Barracks in Pleso, a neighbourhood in the city of Velika Gorica, hosted a presentation of the overhauled Mil Mi-171Sh helicopters belonging to the Multipurpose Rotary-Wing Squadron of the Croatian Air Force’s 91^st Air Base.

The general overhaul of the Mil Mi-171Sh helicopters was described by the Chief of Staff and Deputy Commander of the Croatian Air Force Brig. Gen. Michael Križanec, who pointed out that the event coincided with the 28^th anniversary of the Multipurpose Rotary-Wing Squadron’s establishment.

The presentation was attended by Deputy Prime Minister and the Minister of Defence Damir Krstičević, the Chief of the General Staff of the Croatian Armed Forces Gen. Mirko Šundov, the Ambassador of the Russian Federation to the Republic of Croatia Anvar Sarvarovich Azimov, the Deputy Chief of the General Staff of the Croatian Armed Forces Lt. Gen. Drago Matanović, the Director of the General Staff of the Croatian Armed Forces VADM Robert Hranj, the Commander of the Croatian Air Force Brig. Gen. Mato Mikić, Special Advisor to the Minister of Defence Božo Kožul, representatives of Aeronautical Technical Centre (Zrakoplovno-tehnički centar) and other esteemed guests.

“I am glad to see the overhauled Mil Mi-171Sh helicopters lined up here. We have acquired a valuable asset that will full ensure operational capability and readiness for task execution in the years to come,” said Krstičević while recalling the 23^rd September 1991, the day when the first transport helicopter flew over the newly-liberated airfield in Lučko, a western borough of Croatia’s capital Zagreb. He reminded the members of the Multipurpose Rotary-Wing Squadron that the event had marked the beginning of their unit’s formation, which counts 24 helicopters today. “We proudly recall those difficult times in which the Croatian Armed Forces’ oldest helicopter squadron was established,” Krstičević underlined, going on to express his satisfaction with the overhaul: “I am glad that the overhauled helicopters are already being used by the Croatian Air Force in carrying out official tasks and duties, which is a testament to the quality of the overhaul.”

Minister Krstičević added that the Croatian Air Force’s helicopters had flown 1,714 ambulance flights, transported 670 patients and taken part in 13 search-and-rescue operations in 2019 (data as of 1^st September). Moreover, he emphasized that the overhaul had ensured that the helicopters could continue carrying out the same tasks as before: military operations within Croatia’s borders, international operations, assistance to civilians within the Homeland Security System, search-and-rescue operations on land and at sea, emergency airlifts, fire suppression, etc.

“Aeronautical Technical Centre’s capacities were occupied with the overhaul for some time, but the end-result is an increase in the quality of the Mil Mi-171Sh helicopter’s technical maintenance,” Krstičević concluded.

“Although the capability to operate in a demanding multinational environment is important, the reliance of Croatia’s citizens on the Croatian Air Force’s support is more important,” said Gen. Mirko Šundov, stressing that Croatia was doing everything in its might to modernize and equip the Croatian Armed Forces under challenging economic circumstances.

Brig. Gen. Mato Mikić pointed out: “The Croatian Air Force is once again in possession of a full fleet of Mil Mi-171Sh helicopters. Its flying resources are available for all tasks both within and beyond the borders of the Republic of Croatia.”

Grateful for the co-operation with his host country, Ambassador Azimov said that the Russia Federation was open to co-operation and assistance in the future.

“We are absolutely satisfied with the overhaul. The helicopters are fully functional, operational and capable of supporting all tasks assigned to us by the Croatian Armed Forces and civilian institutions,” said Maj. Dubravko Radić, Commander of the Multipurpose Rotary-Wing Squadron, upon the completion of a promotional flight.

The flying technician on the promotional flight was SSgt. Goran Bezuk, son of the late Col. Vladimir Bezuk, who refitted a Mil Mi-8 helicopter for a maintenance ferry flight on the historic 23^rd September 1991, along with Maj. Gen. (Ret.) Vlado Bagarić and the late Ivan Kolenković.

“It was a pleasure to fly this helicopter and I look forward to my next flight on it,” said SSgt. Bezuk.

In 2017, Croatia’s Ministry of Defence and Aeronautical Technical Centre (Zrakoplovno-tehnički centar, ZTC) signed a contract for an overhaul of ten Mil Mi-171Sh helicopters worth HRK 206,943,143.20 (VAT included).

Technical support during the overhaul was provided by Russian Helicopters, Aeronautical Technical Centre’s foreign partner from the Russian Federation.

Ten Mil Mi-171Sh helicopters belonging to the Croatian Air Force were successfully overhauled and returned to their parent unit. They are fully operational, possess all the required capabilities and are employed in carrying out tasks. The contract foresaw an overhaul of all systems in the multipurpose variant of Mil Mi-171Sh helicopters, so that the helicopters retained all the capabilities that they had had before the overhaul. They are employed for humanitarian assistance to civil institutions. These activities include search-and-rescue operations, emergency airlifts, transport of organs for transplantation, fire suppression and NATO’s peacekeeping operation KFOR in Kosovo, where two overhauled helicopters were deployed in August.

Text by DORIS RAVLIĆ

Photo by TOMISLAV BRANDT

Translation by IVA GUGO