Russia’s Rostech State Corporation has tied up with the Indian state-owned Hindustan Aeronautics Limited for manufacture of at least 200 Kamov 226T light helicopters to replace the ageing fleet of Che
Russia’s Rostech State Corporation has tied up with the Indian state-owned Hindustan Aeronautics Limited for manufacture of at least 200 Kamov 226T light helicopters to replace the ageing fleet of Cheetah and Chetak, in a deal estimated to be worth $1 billion under Make in India initiative. “The agreement with India is the result of the long work with our Indian partners,” CEO of Rostech, Mr Sergei Chemezov, was quoted by news agencies, as saying. “The organisation for the manufacture of helicopters is provided by the creation of a Russian-Indian joint venture in India, which includes holdings of Rostech-JSC ‘Rosoboronexport’ and ‘Russian Helicopters”, and on the India side — the corporation HAL,” he said.
This is the first Russian-Indian high-tech project implemented by the Indian government within the framework of the Make in India programme. During the recent visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Moscow, an agreement was signed between the two countries on cooperation in the field of helicopter manufacturing.
The document was signed in the presence of Mr Modi and Russian President Vladimir Putin. According to the document, Rostech will organise in India the production of Russian Ka-226T and its modifications in the amount of not less than 200 units. The agreement also provides for maintenance, operation and repair of helicopters.
Mr Chemezov said that in future, the programme can be extended and both partners are considering the possibility of joint access to other markets as well. Incidentally, Mr Modi is set to inaugurate a new helicopter production facility of HAL at Tumkur in Karnataka on Sunday. Sources said that while the facility would be used for manufacture of Advanced Light Helicopters, Kamov could also be built there.
The defence ministry had last year scrapped a scam-tainted tender worth over Rs 6,000 crores to procure 197 light utility helicopters for Army and Air Force to replace the fleet of Cheetah and Chetak copters.
