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Russia’s Mi-17 to Land in India
India will seal a contract for buying 80 Mi-17 combat transport helicopters in Russia provided Russia purchases 20 Dhruv helicopters of India’s make for a total worth of $120 million. The analysts are at a loss now, unable to name the company willing to purchase such helicopters here.
It was Indian Air Force Commander-in-Chief Shashindra Pal Tyagi that told The Armaments Export journal that India intends to buy a big consignment of helicopters in Russia. Shanshindra Pal Tyagi specified they are willing to order 80 helicopters.
The contract is due to be signed in late 2006, so that the client could receive the first consignment in 2007, sources at the air construction community of Russia said. As each Mi-17 costs around $5 million, the overall worth of the contract will range from $400 million to $500 million, depending on completing parts.
Overall, Russia supplied more than 400 Mi helicopters to India. Of this number, 300 helicopters are still in operation, mostly Mi-8s and Mi-17s.
The tricky point is that India conditions the contract to Russia’s commitment to acquire light Dhruv helicopters of Indian HAL. “The principal decision on purchasing Dhruvs has been made at the level of Russia’s and Indian Intergovernmental Commission for Military and Technical Cooperation, but the issue hasn’t been agreed to the end,” a source with Russia’s government said on condition of anonymity. “There are no plans to buy this helicopter for Russia’s Air Forces, if only for some civil clients.”
www.kommersant.com
All the Article in Russian as of July 11, 2006
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