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Indian Air Force cancels plans to buy 48 Mi-17V5 Helicopters from Russia
The We For News reported, the Indian Air Force has decided to cancel plans to buy 48 more Mi-17V5 helicopters from Russia. The aim is to support the Make in India initiative in the Defence programme of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
The decision to scrap the procurement plans is not related to the conflict between Russian and Ukraine, the sources said. The move was made before the conflict broke out and is aimed to bolster the ‘Make in India’ initiative, a government program designed to boost local high-tech production and to lower the country’s dependence on imports.
Agovernment source told the India Today magazine: “The tender for 48 Mi-17V5 helicopters has been withdrawn in view of the push for indigenization. The IAF would now be supporting an indigenous program for helicopters."
It was not immediately clear whether the potential procurement had materialized into any sort of deal or memorandum of understanding with Russia, or whether it remained only a plan harbored by the Indian government.
India receives more orders of Russian S-400 air defense systems
India is a major importer of Russian-made arms and maintains a large fleet of Mi-17 helicopters of various configurations. Apart from being the workhorse of the IAF medium-lift transport aviation, this type of helicopter is used by other Indian government agencies, including for flying top officials around the country.
Source: wefornews
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