weight of the copter is low and they will not be able to stand in it," Tyagi said, adding that the SPG wanted to be involved in the selection process.
These changes were made in 2003 before he took over, Tyagi said.
The RFP was finally issued in 2006 when Tyagi was IAF chief and Pranab Mukherjee the Defence Minister.
The deal is now on hold after allegations that kickbacks to the tune of Rs 362 crore were paid in the Rs 3600 crore deal and Defence Minister A K Antony has ordered a CBI probe to look into the matter.
The probe was ordered after the chief of Italian defence and aerospace giant Finmeccanica, Giuseppe Orsi, was arrested in connection with the alleged scam.
India has already received three helicopters and the delivery of remaining nine has been put on hold.