India, Israel to Jointly Upgrade Mi-17 Helicopters of Indian Air Force

India's electronic devices maker Alpha Design Technologies has signed a $30 million deal with Elbit Systems of Israel to jointly upgrade 90 Mi-17 helicopters of the Indian Air Force (IAF).

NEW DELHI (Sputnik) — Alpha will manufacture key sub-units such as smart displays, new cockpit, transponder, Digital Voice Recorder, Missile Launch Detection Systems, Cables and Brackets.

"The offset contract involves upgrading 90 MI-17 helicopters of the IAF by manufacturing smart displays, new cockpit, transponder, digital voice recorder, missile launch detection systems (MILDS), cables and brackets," said Alpha Design in a statement.

Company expects some more upgradation contract related to Ka-226, Light Combat Helicopter, ACH, Chinook and Apache helicopters from Indian armed forces. The company has supplied defense electronics equipment worth $100 million over the past five years and claims $250 million order book for the next three years.

Alpha design has also submitted a bid in response to the Indian Army's global bid for new software defined radios issued in January this year. India had invited global manufacturers of software defined radio to provide their bid to supply latest communication system having range of 60 Kilometer by February 17.

Indian Army had not disclosed the exact number of airborne, handheld, manpack, truck ground, armored fighting vehicle SDR which is scheduled to replace currently operational combat net radio. Software defined radio (SDR) will provide flexibility and efficiency to the forces as it can cover larger area with less soldier along the borders of Pakistan and China.

Alpha has developed SDR in collaboration with Elbit Systems' Land & C4I Systems group.