The MI-17 helicopter, developed at the Mil Design Bureau from the MI-8 helicopter, is in serial manufactured at the Kazan Helicopter Production Association. The designation MI-17 is for export; the Russian armed forces called it MI-8MT. It serves as a multirole transport helicopter. The MI-17 can also be very heavily armed with an extensive array or rockets, missiles, and guns for ground attack. It is often used to air assault infantry forces to attack the point of penetration, reinforce units in contact, or disrupt counterattacks. It is an improved development of the MI-8. The airframe structure, transport capabilities, and equipment are essentially identical with those of the MI-8.