The Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam (CAAV) has validated the type certificate of Mi-171A2 multipurpose helicopter produced at the Ulan-Ude Aviation Plant of the Russian Helicopters holding company. This opens the Vietnamese market for the latest modification of the Mi-8/17 helicopter family.

Earlier on March 13, 2020, the Federal Air Transport Agency (Rosaviatsia) and CAAV signed an airworthiness agreement aimed at supporting and simplifying the validation of Russian aircraft exported to Vietnam. This allows Rosaviatsia to support the development plan for the export deliveries of next-generation domestic aviation technology, formed together by the Ministry of Industry and Trade of Russia and companies from the Russian aircraft industry.

The first foreign operators of the Mi-171A2 were Kazakhstan and India. The helicopter type certificate has been validated by the aviation authorities of India, Colombia, South Korea and now Vietnam. The validation is also planned by China, Brazil, Mexico, Peru and other countries.

Mi-171A2 integrates the best characteristics of the famous Mi-8/17 helicopters. It is equipped with VK-2500PS-03 engines with a digital control system. The increased power output of its engines and modernised piloting, navigation and radio communication equipment have expanded the model's scope for various operations. They provide Mi-171A2 with fundamentally new capabilities when operating in mountainous regions and hot climates. Due to its more efficient X-shaped tail rotor, a new main rotor with all composite blades, and improved aerodynamic profile, the cruise and maximum speeds of Mi-171A2 helicopter are 10 percent higher and its load capacity is 25 percent greater than those of serial Mi-8/17 helicopters (up to 4 tonnes of cargo inside the cargo bay or up to 5 tons on an external sling).

Mi-171A2 comes with a modern KBO-17-1 digital "glass cockpit" avionics suite, which allows to reduce its crew to two persons. Video cameras provide a better view during external load operations. Its flight safety is improved by modern terrain awareness and warning systems, airborne and obstacle collision avoidance systems. The model's cargo bay can be quickly modified for different operations by converting it between cargo transportation, search and rescue or passenger variants.

The helicopter was certified in A category, with the strictest flight safety requirements for civilian helicopters. The helicopter can perform search and rescue missions, medical and cargo operations, fight fires or carry passengers in daylight and during night, and at temperatures from -50 °C to 50 °C. It is suitable for high-mountain, desert, tropical or arctic climates and capable of carrying out long flights without landing.