Thread by @prasadpanseMT

#INDIGENOUS AIRBORNE #LOCUST CONTROL SYSTEM ON
#MI17 #HELICOPTER developed by @IAF_MCC ने विकसित केलेली टोळधाड नियंत्रण यंत्रणा @PashokMT
@ParagKMT @ShreedharLoniMT @MTjitendra @shree_brahmeMT @mataonline @aparanjape @Girbane @nitinwelde @nitinpurandare

Anticipating Locust attack, Ministry of Agriculture signed a contract with M/s Micron, UK to modify two Mi-17 Helicopters for spraying atomized pesticide to arrest Locust breeding in May 2020.

Due to COVID-19 pandemic, the UK based firm would be able to manufacture and supply the modification kit to IAF only from Sep 2020 onward for system integration and testing.

meanwhile, an unprecedented #Locust attack started manifesting from last week of May and was fast spreading practically across many States.

Indian Air Force tasked No. 3 Base Repair Depot located at #Chandigarh to undertake the challenging task of indigenously designing and developing an Airborne Locust Control System (ALCS) for Mi-17 helicopters

Using all indigenous components, the atomized airborne spraying of pesticide has been successfully achieved in air through a configuration of nozzles mounted both sides on external trusses of a Mi-17 helicopter.

The pesticide Malathion in appropriate concentration would be filled in the internal Auxiliary tank of 800 liters capacity fitted inside the helicopter and pumped into the nozzles by using an electrical pump as well as compressed air

achieving nearly 40 minutes of spaying duration in the infected zone covering an area of approximately 750 hectares in each mission.

team of Test Pilots and Test Engineers of Aircraft and Systems Testing Establishment, Blore have successfully carried out ground airborne trials of ALCS.

Being an indigenously developed system, the #ALCS would offer inherent advantages of in-house maintenance, future upgradeability, saving of foreign exchange and help in making the country Self Reliant in aviation related technology