NEW DELHI, March 28 (Reuters) - India will buy 156
combat helicopters for its air force and army in a deal worth
over $7.3 billion, the defence ministry said on Friday, marking
one of the biggest purchases this financial year in the
country's drive to modernise its military.
The dual-engine 'Prachand' helicopter manufactured by Indian
warplane maker Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd is powered by
engines co-developed with France's Safran and can
operate at an altitude of 5,000 metres and above.
India has been making efforts to boost its domestic defence
production to achieve self-reliance and shield itself from
disruptions in global supply chains after being the world's top
arms importer for years, with Russia as its main supplier.
New Delhi's recent defence purchases are driven by its aim
to modernise its armed forces by gradually weaning them off
their Soviet-origin weapons and boost their capabilities in the
face of arch-rival China's growing military strength.
India's defence ministry said it signed two contracts for 66
helicopters for its air force and 90 for its army, and that the
supply is expected to begin after three years.
"This decision marks a major boost to India's combat
capabilities and self-reliance in defence," Defence Minister
Rajnath Singh wrote in a social media post. "Helicopter
'Prachand' is a powerful machine."
The Indian Air Force first began inducting the helicopter
into its fleet in 2022. Indian defence officials have previously
said that nations in Africa, South East Asia and Latin America
have shown interest in buying it from India.
($1 = 85.4850 Indian rupees)