Russian Helicopters To Sign After-Sales Service Agreement For India’s Mi-17 Choppers

Russian Helicopters today announced that it is close to signing a long-term maintenance agreement with India’s Ministry of Defense to provide after-sales service for entire Indian fleet of Mi-17 helicopters.

This long-term maintenance agreement will be for the entire life-cycle of the fleet and marks a shift from the earlier approach provision of after-sales support.

According to the preliminary agreement, Russian Helicopters will provide repairs for the Mi-17 fleet and also supply spares throughout the entire life cycle of the rotorcraft.  Repairs of helicopters operated in India will be performed by enterprises that are part of Russian Helicopters. The current contract life cycle is expected to be 3-5 years. A further extension, as well as an expansion of helicopter models covered by the after-sales support system is part of the plan and is being considered.

"We are very excited to be coming to India to be part of DEFEXPO India 2016. These are exciting times for India's defence industry as Asia's geopolitics increasingly takes shape around India. This has led to India's defence services focus even more strongly on modernisation and expansion. Within that ambit we plan to sign a contract that will lay the foundation for a new era of after-sales collaboration between Russian Helicopters and India. This is now being discussed with the Air Force, Navy and border patrol troops of India," said Sergei Chemezov, CEO of Rostec State Corporation. "For us, it will be the first long-term service contract with India. Set prices and delivery dates for supplying equipment needed to repair our helicopters are among the advantages of this type of contract.  It will boost Russian-made helicopters' after-sales system to a new level".