Indian Navy Finds Kamov 226T Unsuitable, To Issue Tender to Build 110 Helicopters

The Indian Navy will be issuing a fresh tender to manufacture 110 copters locally in collaboration with a foreign firm, after the Russian Kamov-226T copter reportedly failed to meet the Navy’s requirements.

The government source told Mail Today that “as the strategic partnership policy has been cleared by the government, an Expression of Interest would be issued to the Indian firms by the Defence Ministry in the next few weeks to buy 110 copters, which would be under the ‘Made in India’ project”.

The source added that the old Kamov 226T does not meet the requirements of the Navy and so new tender would be required for buying these light utility helicopters.

According to the report, Indian firms like Mahindra, L&T and Bharat Forge are likely to take part in the tender along with foreign partners like Airbus Helicopters from Europe, Russian Helicopters, Sikorsky and Bell Helicopters from the US. It has been more than two years now that the force had to wait as the government was formulating the strategic partnership policy during this time.

The Navy is also trying to come out with a fresh deal for obtaining 123 Naval Multi-role Helicopters (NMRH) through the Make in India route. It will reportedly be one of the biggest helicopter deals in the world.