The Mi-14 is pretty much a pregnant Mi-17 (Mi-8 with Mi-24 powerplant)
9.5 metric tons empty, 14 tons MTOW - at which the SAR variants constantly operate. It's like AW-101 Merlin with one engine missing
Not much of an S-64 copy, as the Mi-8 was first (1961 vs 1962).
The Mi-14 design is pretty outdated, having it's first flight 1969 and no real modernization since the 1980. The Polish ones, were bought in 1985, along the way, the SAR version got GPS and modern communication equipment. The ASW ones - one was pretty extensively modernized to a standard similar to the American LAMPS III, but there was no money for extending the program on the 10 other machines - those are only getting new armament - new light depth charges, and torpedoes (MU90 Impact) - so far the Haze was using only depth charges, as the Russian torpedoes needed 600ft of depth to work... while most of the Baltic See have around 150
There were initially 3 SAR helicopters bought, one crashed in early 90's during night exercises - CFIT into a lake, no one got hurt, but the machine was a write-off. In it's place there was bought another one - used, as the production line was closed at the time. This one was older, and bought from Ukraine, served well until last year when it reached its 28 years. Russian SAR and VIP helicopters can't fly more than 28 years - other, like ASW can fly for 32 years. When eastern helicopter reach his day it have to be pulled out of the service - here it means being scrapped, or being put into museum. The Mi-14PS #5137 was disassembled from the mission-essential parts this year. Those parts will be probably mounted on one of the ASW Mi-14PL helicopters - modified to perform the Search & Rescue duty, as the two other SAR platforms (#1013 and #1016) will reach their time next year. Nothing is set in stone though, as the Polish DoD just pulled 2 billions USD of the...
hat, to buy 26 medium-weight helicopters, some for ASW and SAR missions... will see how this situation develops.
Although the Mi-14 got old, tough on spares and flight hours, got already 3 major overhauls (factory allowed initially only two), and on man power (short on crew commanders), the 29th Squadron in Darlowo (EPDA) is on 15-minutes SAR mission ready status since 21st of every month to its end, than the 28th squadron in Gdynia (EPOK) take over, and 29th is siting on 3-hour stand by. Pretty messed up times.
The 29th Squadron have 10 ASW Mi-14PL, 1 training Mi-14PX, 2 SAR Mi-14PS and 1 SAR W-3RM
The 28th Squadron have 2 utility W-3T, 5 SAR W-3RM, 2 utility Mi-8, and 3 ASW SH-2G (were four, but one was nominated to be cannibalized for spares)
Don't let me talk about the W-3RM.. as those were forced on the Navy in the first place, and are currently pretty much outclassed even by lighter HH-65Cs.
