The long-pending joint venture between India and Russia to manufacture 200 Kamov-226T light-utility helicopters for around $1 billion (over Rs 6,500 crore) is now finally set to kick off.
The JV is between defence PSU Hindustan Aeronautics and Russian companies.
Overall, the armed forces urgently need 484 light choppers to replace their obsolete single-engine Cheetah Chetak fleets.
Under the agreement, the first 60 choppers will come from Russia, while the rest will be manufactured in India over nine years.
The twin-engine Kamov-226Ts are multi-role helicopters.
It can undertake reconnaissance, patrol and disaster relief operations as well as transport eight combat-ready soldiers with a maximum range of 600-km.
