Mi-17: How Did The US Army End Up Secretly Operating Russian-Made Helicopters?

The United States secretly operates Soviet-designed Mil Mi-17 (NATO reporting name “Hip”) military helicopoters. The Mi-17 is a medium transport helicopter that is also used as an armed gunship in some versions. Mi-17s are used around the world – mostly in emerging countries with low budgets and in countries that had good relationships with the Soviets. It remains in production in two factories in Russia (in Kazan and Ulan-Ude) as the Mil Mi-8 ( Ukraine may have recently shot down an Mi-8 with a small FPV drone for the first time).