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New Delhi: The Indian Air Force (IAF) has decided to buy 80 medium lift multi-role Mi-17 1V helicopters outright from Russia, making it perhaps the first of the five helicopter deals pending with the three services to be cleared.
Chief of Air Staff Air Chief Marshal (ACM) S P Tyagi told India Strategic newsmagazine that he expected the procedural formalities to be over within a few months and the deliveries to commence in 2007 and be over within a year.