India signs up for 48 more Mi-17s

[Zarvan]

India is looking to buy 48 more Mi-17V-5 helicopters from Russia. Source: Russian Helicopters
The Indian Air Force (IAF) will buy 48 more Mil Mi-17V-5 'Hip' medium-lift helicopters to supplement the 139 it acquired from 2008 onwards, officials confirmed on 20 July.

The IAF spokesman told IHS Jane's that the IAF had moved a proposal to the Ministry of Defence (MoD) to buy the additional Mi-17V-5s for around UDS1.1 billion.

Senior IAF officials do not anticipate delays in securing MoD approval for the twin-engine helicopters, as they are an add-on to an earlier purchase made via a government-to-government deal with Russia.

It is, however, unclear whether all or just some of the 48 Mi-17V-5s will be weaponised, as was the case with the majority of the earlier 139 platforms.

The IAF acquired 80 Mi-17V-5s in 2008 for USD1.34 billion and followed that purchase in December 2012 with an order for another 71 for USD1.53 billion. Twelve of the second batch were ordered for India's paramilitary forces.

Delivery of the Mi-17V-5s to the IAF - to replace ageing Mil Mi-8s and to augment the fleet of 90 Mi-17IVs acquired in the late 1990s - began in September 2011 and is likely to be completed by the end of 2015.

In 2014 six Mi-17V-5s were modified for the IAF's Communication Squadron to transport Indian VIPs such as the president and prime minister, after the MoD terminated the import of 12 AgustaWestland AW101 helicopters following corruption allegations.

No decision, however, has been taken on whether these six - or more-Mi-17V-5s - will be permanently seconded to transporting VIPs or whether the Special Protection Group, responsible for their security, will seek to replace them with other platforms.

Want to read more? For analysis on this article and access to all our insight content, please enquire about our subscription options ihs.com/contact




To read the full article, Client Login
(292 of 383 words)

India signs up for 48 more Mi-17s - IHS Jane's 360

 

[Hindustani78]

India is Russia's largest arms customer

India plans to buy 48 new Russian-made Mi-17 military helicopters, news agency RIA Novosti reported Tuesday, citing an Indian air force spokesman, in a move that would cement Russia's place as a key supplier of military hardware to India's armed forces.

The comments by the spokesman came after Indian newspaper The Economic Times reported on Monday that the Indian air force would sign a deal with Russia for the delivery of 48 Mi-17V-5 military transport helicopters for USD 1.1 billion.

"The Indian air force really has proposed to purchase an additional 48 Mi-17V-5 helicopters. However, the price and other financial aspects of the proposal cannot be disclosed," Singh Birdi told RIA.

The agency also cited an unidentified Russian defense industry source as saying the contract could be signed next year.