NDA eyes Rs. 17,500Cr deal with US

NDA eyes Rs. 17,500Cr deal with US

The newly formed NDA government has come up with abig defence contract of Rs. 17,500 crore deal with the United States for navalhelicopters before the yearend as informed by two senior officials familiarwith the navy's modernization on the condition of anonymity.

According to the officials, India is buying 24Lockheed Martin-Sikorsky MH-60R helicopters to strengthen the navy'santi-submarine/anti-surface warfare and surveillance capabilities.

It has been reported that the multi-role helicopterpurchase is being made under the US government's foreign military saleprogramme which involves a direct government-to-government sale. The officialsfurther informed that they hope to conclude the contract with the US by October-Novemberand the deliveries are expected to begin 18 months after the contract is signedand all the MH-60Rs should be in by 2022. The helicopters will plug a keycapability gap.

Meanwhile, the navy is also pursuing a plan to build111 naval utility helicopters (NUH) in India under the strategic partnership(SP) model to replace its outdated fleet of French-designed Chetak choppers andthe technical bids of the foreign firms competing for the project were openedon Monday. The NUH are being used by the Navy for search and rescue operation,medical evacuation, communication duties, anti-piracy and anti-terrorismoperations, humanitarian assistance, surveillance and targeting.   

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