 |
| Mi-17 of the 107th Helicopter Unit, Indian Air Force (Image: Wiki Commons) |
By Ankit Panda
New Delhi’s fleet of Russian Mi-17 helicopters is set to grow yet again.
India is slated to purchase up to 48 Mil Mi-17 V5 helicopters from Russia in a purchase worth $1.1 billion. The Indian Defense Acquisition Council (DAC), the body charged with approving Indian defense purchases and chaired by the defense minister, Manohar Parrikar, approved the order on Wednesday. The helicopters will enter service with the Indian Air Force. The DAC’s decision is not unexpected: Alexander Mikheyev, the general director of Russian Helicopters, had told Russia’s Interfax news agency that New Delhi would place an order for additional units.
According to Russian state media, India already operates 139 Mi-17s worth more than $2 million. In comments to Russia’s TASS news agency, a spokesperson from the Indian Air Force noted that ”The advanced Russian-made helicopters will be used in difficult-terrain areas ranging from deserts to mountains along the Pakistani and Chinese borders.” ”Mi-17V-5S helicopters make up the backbone of the transport helicopter fleet of the IAF,” it added. India currently uses its Mi-17s for border surveillance, transport, and logistics.
Read the full story at The Diplomat