Slovak Aircraft Repair Company Trenčín (LOTN, a.s.) delivered on 28 July the first Mi-17V5 helicopter that it has repaired for the Afghani Air Forces, said in the statement that was reported by the Ministry of Defense of Slovak Republic.

According to the statement, the helicopter was loaded on an Antonov An-124-100 transport aircraft for shipment from M. R. Štefánik Airport, Bratislava back to Afghanistan on Saturday (28 July).

LOTN, a.s. was awarded the Afghan Air Force Mi-17V5 Helicopter Overhaul and Heavy Repair Contract by the NATO Support and Procurement Agency (NSPA) through full and open international competitive bidding (ICB) in 2016.

LOTN director general and chair of its board of directors Martin Dusanic stressed that this was the first-ever general overhaul of the Mi-17V5 helicopter to be carried out within the EU and NATO territory. “Therefore, I would like to sincerely praise the precise and expert work carried out by LOTN’s staff,” said Dusanik, adding that the result of their work attests to the fact that the company is also able to succeed in international competition.

As a part of the delivery process, the helicopter made its first test flight following its overhaul in Slovakia, while the remaining flights took place in Afghanistan, said Capakova.

“LOTN will keep fulfilling the contract whose implementation has been regularly checked by the NSPA agency. It plans to deliver additional repaired helicopters of this type to Afghanistan next year,” said the spokesperson.

The Mi-17V-5 military/transport helicopter is made at Kazan Helicopters, Russia and designed by the to carry personnel, cargo and equipment inside the cargo cabin or on an external sling, drop tactical air assault forces and reconnaissance and sabotage groups, destroy ground targets and carry the wounded.

The helicopter is equipped with a modern avionics suite providing round-the-clock employment of the helicopter and weapons.