India clears $1.1bn contract for 48 Russian-built Mi-17-V5 helicopters

NEW DELHI, September 2. /TASS/. India's Defence Acquisition Council has approved procurement of 48 Mi-17-V5 helicopters worth $1.1 billion from Russia, the Economic Times daily reported on Wednesday. "The contract for 48 Russian-made Mi-17-V5 helicopters worth 70 billion rupees ($1.1 billion) has topped the package deal on armament and associated materiel acquisition which was considered and approved by a session of the Defence Acquisition Council," a source in the Indian Ministry of Defence told the publication. India has already bought and introduced into its inventory 139 Mi-17s worth more than $2 billion. "The advanced Russian-made helicopters will be used in difficult-terrain areas ranging from deserts to mountains along the Pakistani and Chinese borders," Indian Air Force headquarters confirmed to TASS. "Mi-17V-5S helicopters make up the backbone of the transport helicopter fleet of the IAF," it said. Read more