The Indian Ministry of Defense has issued initial approval for the purchase of 111 naval helicopters, worth 2,7 billion euros.
Nirmala Sitharaman, Minister of Defense, stressed the importance of the project, in the context of the "Make in India" policy, as it aims to strengthen the domestic production sector in the defense sector, with private Indian companies producing systems of cutting-edge weapons in collaboration with the major world armed forces through joint ventures and technology transfers. The formal offer for the helicopter project, issued by the Ministry of Defense and the Indian Navy, provides for the importation of the first 16 helicopters, while the remaining 95 will subsequently be produced in India.
According to reports from the Indian newspaper "Times of India", it will take at least two years for the actual contract for the twin-engine helicopters, needed by the Navy to replace its old fleet of single-engine Chetak helicopters.