Indian Defence Ministry gives approval to purchase 384 choppers

NEW DELHI: The Indian Defence Ministry has approved to purchase 384 light helicopters for the Army and the Air Force worth over $ 1.6 billion. The international tenders will be floated soon for this one of the biggest defence contract in the recent times.
The approval was given in a meeting chaired by Defence Minister A.K. Antony which was attended among others by minister of state for Defence Production Rao Inderjit Singh and Minister of State for Defence M.M. Pallam Raju, besides the top brass of the Ministry of Defence and the services, media reports quoting defence authorities said.
India plans to replace the old and aged 1970s generation Chetak and Cheetah helicopters of the Army. The Indian army will get 259 helicopters while the remaining 125 will be for the Air force.
One hundred and ninety seven helicopters will be purchased directly from the manufacturers while the remaining will be built by Hindustan Aeronautics limited (HAL) in India under the technology transfer deal.