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Russia’s Ka-226T helicopter winning Indian tender not confirmed

Russia is ready to establish Ka-226T production in India
Ka-226T helicopter  ITAR-TASS/Marina Lystseva
Ka-226T helicopter
© ITAR-TASS/Marina Lystseva

KUBINKA /Moscow region/, June 16. /TASS/. Russia’s Federal Service for Military Technical Cooperation said on Tuesday it cannot confirm reports that the Russian-made Ka-226T helicopter has won a tender for supplies to India.

"As for the Ka-226T helicopter, I cannot confirm that we have won the tender, but this helicopter has good perspectives. We hope the Ka-226T will win over the Indian market. We are doing our best for that," the service’s chief, Alexander Fomin, told journalists on the sidelines of the Army-2015 forum currently being held in the Moscow region.

He said Russia was ready to establish Ka-226T production in India. "We are ready for such cooperation," he underscored.

Plans to establish joint production of Ka-226T light helicopters were discussed during Russian President Vladimir Putin’s visit to India in December 2014. Prior to it, the Ka-226T took part in a tender for the supplies of 197 light helicopters to the Indian land troops.

According to earlier reports, India’s council for defence purchases approved possible purchase of about 200 Ka-226T helicopters. In May 2015, CEO of the Helicopters of Russia holding company Alexander Mikheyev said the Russian side had not been notified by the Indian partners about the launch of the Ka-226T joint production project. He added however such a notification was expected soon.