Moscow: Indo Russian Helicopter Pvt Ltd (IRHL) , a joint venture between Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL) and Russian Helicopters, will submit a proposal to supply 200 Ka-226T helicopters in a few days.

According to Andrey Boginsky, CEO of Russian Helicopters, the Indian Defence Ministry has extended the deadline for submitting RFP for 200 Ks-226T helicopters, which had earlier been set for August 1.

Boginsky was addressing the media at the Army2018 military forum here earlier this week.

Russian Helicopters and HAL are now working on crafting a detailed business plan that will identify the order of localisation activities, size of investments from both parties, and preparation of the manufacturing site in India. HAL had earlier offered a site at Tumkur in Karnataka for the manufacture of Kamov helicopters.

Localisation Plan

Boginsky said Russian Helicopters and its suppliers in Russia have identified the time required for localisation in India.

“Right now the four parties — which includes our company and our suppliers, HAL and potential suppliers in India — are having a dialogue regarding localisation for various components, how ready those companies are (to take up localisation works) in terms of site, workforce and technologies.

“So we are actively preparing to start the project even though the contract is not yet signed,” he said.

He added that the joint venture is considering to involve Indian private companies in the localisation programme as many of them have the necessary capabilities.

According to sources, the contract is expected to be signed in October, during the visit of Russian President Vladimir Putin to India.

Indo-Russian Agreement

The intergovernmental agreement between India and Russia signed back in 2016 has a clause for up to 50 per cent localisation of manufacturing.

According to Boginsky, the project for localisation of manufacturing of the Kamov helicopters in India will get more clarity once the contract is signed.