India postponed the purchase of Russian Mi-17 helicopters

The Indian Air Force refused to buy due to the desire of the authorities to support the local program of medium-lift helicopters

India has postponed a plan to purchase 48 Mi-17V5 military transport helicopters from RUSSIA, ANI and India Today reported, citing government sources.

According to them, the decision is not related to the Russian military operation in Ukraine, it was made long before it began - as part of support for the national program Make in India, adopted by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

“The decision was made to close the deal. The Air Force will support the program of local medium-lift helicopters, ”a source told ANI.

Russia signed a contract with India for the supply of 80 Mi-17 helicopters in June 2011, a spokesman for Rosoboronexport said, without disclosing the amount of the deal. ANI notes that they entered the service of the country's Air Force in batches.

The agency indicates that India is one of the largest operators of the MI-17 helicopter fleet. They are used, among other things, to transport the president, prime minister and other high-ranking officials of the country.

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The Mi-17V-5 is designed to transport personnel, transport cargo and samples of weapons and military equipment. The maximum takeoff weight of the helicopter is 13 tons. Flight range - 650 km, maximum speed at normal takeoff weight - 250 km / h.

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In December, Russia and India signed an agreement on a military-technical cooperation program until 2031. Its discussion took place within the framework of the Russian-Indian summit in Delhi, which was attended by Modi and Russian President Vladimir Putin . At the same time, the parties signed a contract for $590 million, according to which AK-203 assault rifles will be produced in India.

Washington announced in March that the US administration was considering imposing sanctions against India under the CAATSA (Countering America's Adversaries Through Sanctions) Act. The 2017 law provides for the introduction of measures against non-US individuals who cooperate with prohibited Russian sectors, projects and individuals.