Military modernisation plan: Navy to procure 234 helicopters for $15 bn

The Navy has been pressing the government to procure new utility and multi-role helicopters

The Indian Navy on Tuesday issued global request for information (RFI) for procurement of 111 utility and 123 multi-role helicopters under the recently- launched strategic partnership model for defence procurement.

Official sources said the RFI has been issued to identify original equipment maker for both the utility helicopters as well as multi-role choppers which are being procured as part of the Navy's modernisation plan.

The procurement of both categories of choppers totalling 234 would cost the government in excess of $15 billion, according to experts who said that these two contracts could be one of the largest globally in recent