Indian Navy Likely To Purchase Sea King Helicopters From Canada

The Indian Navy is likely to buy several Sea King helicopters that have been declared surplus by Canada.

Indian officials are likely to discuss the purchase during an official visit by Canada’s defence minister, Harjit Sajjan later this month, Financial Express quoted unnamed source as saying.

Canada is decommissioning four of its Sea King CH-124 helicopters. The helicopters have logged in very less number of hours. Besides these and there are other four helicopters that were decommissioned in December last year which were recently upgraded, the news daily quoted the source as saying.

Canadian Department of Defense spokesperson has said the Sea Kings have been declared surplus and will be divested in accordance with relevant policies and procedures including sale, donation, transfer, destruction or retention, Canadian news daily Chronicle Herald reported Monday.

Public Services and Procurement Canada posted a Request for Letter of Interest in November 2015 via the government’s military surplus assets website, seeking interest for the potential purchase of Sea King helicopters.