India May Order 50 Ka-226T Helicopters From Russia, Make 150 More In India

India could buy 50 Ka-226T Helicopters off- the-shelf from Russian helicopters and manufacture up to 150 more In India under the Make-in-India program.

Russian sources told defenseworld.net that among the proposals being considered for this project was import a quarter of the order from Russia and manufacture the rest in India. A second option to manufacture the full order in India was also being considered.

Meanwhile a Tass report quoting an Indian MoD statement stated Friday that India has approved a proposal for joint production of Ka-226T helicopters.

The statement didn’t specify the number of helicopters, which India might purchase. It quoted a source close to the Indian Air Force stating that "an initial order for about 50 helicopters" was possible, the Russian news agency said.

In May 2015, the Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) had accorded Acceptance of Necessity (AoN) for procurement and co-production in India of the Russian Ka-226T Helicopters for the Indian Army and Air Force.

The plan is to build the helicopters in India under the “Make in India” program. The state-owned Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) and a couple of private Indian industrial enterprises are reportedly interested in partnering Russian helicopters for this project.

The total demand for light utility helicopters from the Indian armed forces is said to be around 400. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi had earlier proposed to Russian President Putin that the Ka-226T built in India not only for Indian consumption but also for exports.

The Kamov Ka-226T is a versatile helicopters which can be configured as a utility, attack and special purpose chopper.