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New Delhi: The Indian Air Force (IAF) has decided to buy 80 medium lift multi-role Mi-17 1V helicopters from Russia, making it perhaps the first of the five helicopter deals pending with the three services to be cleared.
Chief of Air Staff Air Chief Marshal (ACM) S.P. Tyagi told India Strategic newsmagazine that he expected the procedural formalities to be over within a few months and the deliveries to commence in 2007 and be over within a year.
“The Russians can be very fast in manufacturing equipment and I expect them to supply the entire lot by 2008,” Tyagi is quoted as saying in the October issue of the newsmagazine.
There was competition but the twin-engine Mi-17 1V met all the Air Staff Requirements (ASRs) – the parameters set by the air force – and has been its work horse for about 15 years now, not only in the Himalayas but also on UN missions.
It was appropriate accordingly for the IAF to place what Tyagi called “a follow-on order”.
The Indian Armed Forces have been considering acquisition of about 350 helicopters, the biggest of them being the order for 197 light multi-role helicopters for the army, the prime contenders for which are Bell Helicopter and Augusta Westland.
Sixty of them would be bought outright and the remaining 137 would be manufactured by the Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) under a technology transfer agreement.
The Indian Navy also has a tender out for 16 Anti Submarine Warfare (ASW) helicopters as replacement for the old Sea Kings that are being phased out.
Chief of Naval Staff Admiral Arun Prakash told India Strategic recently that the navy actually required around 40 or 50 helicopters and there could be an order for more later as and when the Naval Staff Requirements (NSRs) were defined.
Another tender
The IAF last week floated another tender for 12 helicopters for the VVIP role that would be equipped with advanced communication, anti-missile and other equipment.
Tyagi did not mention the costs of the Mi-17 1V helicopters but according to market sources, these could be around Rs30 billion (Dh2.42 billion) depending on the configurations and the onboard equipment like avionics.
