India will replace its ageing Cheetah and Chetak choppers.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Russian president Vladimir Putin are likely to sign a $1 billion Kamov 226T chopper deal on the sidelines of the BRICS summit held in Goa.
India and Russia will jointly produce and export 200 Kamov-226T choppers as per the deal which is in line with the ‘Make in India’ initiative of the government. The deal will also meet India’s desire to replace its aging Cheetah and Chetak helicopters, reported India Today.
“The complex agreement to set up a joint production facility of Ka-226T helicopters is expected to be signed at the BRICS forum,” said a statement by Rostec State Corporation, the Russian company under the government that brings together 700 firms engaged in arms manufacturing.
According to the India Today report, Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) could be the partner of Rostec in the deal.
The preliminary contract for 200 helicopters was signed by the head of Rostec, Sergei Chemezov, and Prime Minister Narendra Modi in December last year.
The officials of both the nations will conduct a series of negotiations for the export and after sales servicing of Russian helicopters.
“The contract for export and joint production of 200 Ka-226T helicopters is one of the key projects in the framework of trade and industrial relations between Russia and India. We plan to expand them in both military-technical and civilian areas,” Chemezov was quoted as saying by PTI.
Manufactured by the Russian Helicopters, Kamov-226T is well equipped to work under any climate conditions. The multipurpose choppers are suitable for high altitude operations and can carry up to 1500 kilogram load. Effectively used in transportation by the Russian military, Kamov-226T can carry seven soldiers or service professionals at a maximum cruise speed of 220 kmph and a maximum takeoff weight of 3,600 kg.