Iran may use Mi-17/171 helicopters as naval mine carriers in the area of the Strait of Hormuz. The vehicles are suitable for quickly setting bottom mines at depths of 10–50 meters, which allows closing narrow sections of the water area without involving ships.
The key decision is the suspension and dropping of Maham-2 type mines from the helicopter. In one flight, the Mi-17 is capable of installing up to 2–4 mines, operating from low altitudes and changing drop points.
The design of the ammunition includes acoustic and magnetic fuses, as well as activation delay modes and a target pass counter. This complicates trawling and allows the formation of "delayed" minefields.
Mi-17s appeared in service with Iran in different periods, including deliveries after the 1990s, and still remain a mass platform. According to data from open sources, dozens of such vehicles remain in service, some of which have been adapted for special tasks.
The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and the Iranian Armed Forces have a number of military equipment samples of Russian and Soviet production, including fighters and submarines.
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