Ukrainian Army will receive former Afghan helicopters

According to defence-blog.com the US administration intends to provide Ukraine with some of the equipment previously owned by the former Afghan Air Force (AAF).

As part of the AMA (American Military Assistance) programme, the armed forces of Ukraine should receive an unknown number of Mi-8 and Mi-17 transport helicopters. At this moment, six Mi-17V-5 and one Mi-8MTV are stored at the 309th Aerospace Maintenance and Regeneration Group (AMARG) at Davis-Monthan AFB, near Tucson (AZ), also known as the Boneyard.

On 5 January 2022, Scramble Magazine reported on these helicopters and it is well possible that the Mi-17V-5s might find their way to Ukraine in the near future.

The serials of the Mi-17V-5s at 309th AMARG are: 703, 716, 735, 739, 754 and 760.

All these helicopters have managed to leave Afghanistan, carrying Afghan government leaders and military personnel to Termez in Uzbekistan. Later the American authorities have taken custody of at least some of the ex-Afghan military aircraft now scattered outside Aghanistan, the vast majority of which were originally purchased by the US government. The seven Hips have been silently flown to AMARG aboard the Antonov An-124 cargo plane belonging to UAE-based Maximus Air back in November 2021.

In addition to that, at least two other Mi-17V-5 helicopters, serials 708 and 710, have been spotted in Ukraine for overhaul in late August 2021. Their current status is unknown, but these two are most probably still in Ukraine and may also find their way to the Ukraine Army. It is reported that at least five Mi-17s are in Ukraine for overhaul and that these will be handed over first.

Time will tell how many former AAF helicopters will be transferred to Ukraine ...