Indian Avro Replacement Program Cost Increases As Coast Guard Adds Requirement

The Indian Air Force's avro replacement program will now cost an additional US $870 million (INR 5,500 crore) to the existing US $1.9 billion (INR 12,000 crore) as the coast guard initiated its requirement for new patrol aircraft, Economic Times reported Tuesday.

The total cost of Indian military transport aircraft project comes up to US$2.8 billion (INR 17,500 crore) for a total of 62 aircraft after the coast guard specified its requirement for six new aircraft as part of the Multi Mission Maritime Aircraft (MMMA) for sea reconnaissance to be developed by DRDO and has requested the defense ministry to club it with the ongoing program, the daily quoted unnamed sources as saying.

More additions are not being ruled out as the Navy too could have similar requirements.

Other competitors that include Italian and Ukrainian firms have also written to the Defense Ministry expressing their interest in the project.