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)