Russia Ready to Supply India With Required Number of Helicopters

Earlier in the day, media reported that India's Defense Acquisition Council (DAC) had approved the purchase of 48 Mi-17V-5 helicopters worth $1.1 billion from Russia for the needs of the country's armed forces.

MOSCOW (Sputnik) — Russian Helicopters company is ready to produce the required amount of helicopters for India, the company's press service said Wednesday.

"For Russian Helicopters, India is a strategic partner. For our part, we are ready to provide customers with new helicopters within the required period of time," the company's press service told RIA Novosti.

Between 2012 and 2015, Russia delivered 148 military transport helicopters to India, the company said last week. Moscow expects to send another three helicopters to India by the end of the year to fulfill the contract signed between Moscow and New Delhi in 2008.

The Mi-17V-5 is part of Russian Helicopters' Mi-8/17 family of helicopters, designed for the transportation of personnel. It can be used in search and rescue operations and be equipped with weapons.