Upgrade Mi type helicopters: a nice idea. But without money

(BRUSSELS2) When we listen to European political leaders extol the merits of the helicopter - this modern army's all-purpose mule, capable of landing anywhere and carrying out all possible missions (arrest in Somalia, medical evacuation in Chad, troop transport, combat, etc.) — and explain that it is absolutely necessary to strengthen European operational capabilities in this area, we can say to ourselves that the same people will put the resources in place to make up for this deficit.

A beautiful and real project of general interest

When we see that the European States are agreeing to set up a program to train pilots from Eastern Europe and upgrade their Russian-made equipment of the Mi type (Mi 8 etc.), so that they are operational for external missions, we say to ourselves that it is interesting. You might as well use the pilots and helicopters already available to make them more operational for peace stabilization or interposition missions. Training of Czech, Hungarian and Polish pilots in mountain flying has just started on March 9 at the Gap-Tallard base (before leaving for Afghanistan). When we know that this is a Franco-British initiative, carried out jointly by NATO and the EU, we begin to dream and say: finally, a real project of common interest
general.

Without real financial means

But when you see the reality, it's more limited. In Prague, during the informal meeting of Defense Ministers, the director of the European Defense Agency, who was very talkative when it came to explaining the programme, suddenly became silent when journalists requested the financial amount available. "I don't have the numbers in mind," he explained. Very explainable silence. The trust fund set up by the French and British only brings together around 30-35 million euros (25 million according to some more pessimistic sources). When we know that, at the very least, updating a Mi type helicopter (Russian manufacture) to fly in classic outdoor operating conditions costs several million euros (3-4 to 10-12 million euros... per device, depending on what you put in it), you quickly do the math. We can just make operational less than ten devices. Not enough to make up for the current, glaring shortcomings in terms of military operations.

Once again, Europe has an excellent idea. But the realization struggles, for lack of financial means. That is to say, concretely, of political will.

(NGV)