RF to begin supplying Mi-17B-5 copters to India in March

BANGALOR (Itar-Tass) - Supplies of first Russian
Mi-17B-5 helicopters to India will begin in March 2011, Indian Defence
Minister AK Antony, as the news agency ARMS-TASS reports, said at the air
show Aero India 2011.
The contract to the delivery of 80 Mi-17B-5 helicopters, spare parts
and equipment for them worth 1.35 billion dollars was signed by the Indian
defence minister and Rosoboronexport in December 2008. The helicopters
will be used to solve a wide range of tasks, including the holding of
special operations, airlifting of troops and equipment, search and rescue,
evacuation of the wounded. Part of the helicopters will be equipped with
armaments and act as military transport vehicles.
As Rosoboronexport deputy director Viktor Komardin told journalists on
Thursday, "we already begin fulfilling the contract for 80 helicopters
(Mi-17B-5) and wait for an option on this subject." He noted that
helicopters of Russian make take part simultaneously in several tenders
announced by India: Ka-226 - - in the tender held in the interests of army
aviation, Mi-28 - - in the tender on combat helicopters, Mi-26 - - in the
tender on heavy helicopters.
At present, India has a big helicopter fleet of Soviet and Russian
make. It includes five civilian helicopters Mi-172 used by Indian
aircarriers, as well as 292 military and dual-purpose Mi and Ka
helicopters.