In October 2016, India and Russia had finalised a broad agreement for a joint venture between Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL) and Russian Helicopters. India will buy the first lot of 60 helicopters in a flyaway condition, while the remaining 140 will be made in India under the joint venture

New Delhi: India has approved the technical configuration of the Russian Kamov Ka-226T multi-role military helicopters — which is expected to begin replacing the Cheetah and Chetak helicopters of the Indian armed forces by 2020.

"Approval of helicopter configuration to be delivered and assembled in India means that the technical aspects of the project have been finalised. We and our Indian partners shall commence the preparation of contractual documents in the near future," Andrey Boginsky, the director general of Russian Helicopters Holding Company said at DefExpo, a biennial exhibition of weapons and military platforms, in Chennai on Wednesday.