IAF finalizing follow-on order for 59 Mi-17-V5 helicopters
14 Nov 2011
New Delhi: The Indian Air Force is moving towards finalizing a follow-on contract with Russia for 59 additional Mi-17-V5 helicopters now that phased delivery of the first 80 of these medium-lift helicopters has begun. The first lot of these updated Mi-17s was delivered in September.
"Of the 80 Mi-17s ordered under the $1.34-billion deal in 2008, the first squadron has come up in Bhatinda. IAF will get 26 of these choppers by end-December, with the second squadron coming up in Srinagar by March. All the 80 will be inducted by 2014," a senior official was quoted as saying.
"The 59 more Mi-17s, which will cost around $1 billion, will be ordered under the follow-on clause in the first contract. They will also be weaponized for combat operations like the first 80. The new Mi-17s will also make it possible for IAF to deploy additional choppers for logistical support in anti-Naxal operations," he added.
