Mi-17 to India

[Feanor]

India has decided to purchase another 80 Mi-17 helos, in addition to the 200 it already has in service. This comes only days after the decision to pay in full for the Gorshkov refit. Both decisions were undertaken right before the visit of Russian president Dmitriy Medvedev, but immediately after Medvedev decided to shorten his visit to India down to one day, which seemed to indicate a cooling of relations.

http://arms-tass.su/?page=article&aid=63525&cid=25

I'm not sure if this purchase is in response to any specific tender, or just a decision to increase the helicopter fleet. However the timing of this contract is interesting.

EDIT: And it has just been stated that news of the final contract having been signed have been overturned. The Gorshkov refit is still up in the air, with India being willing to pay an additional 500 out of the 700 million that Russia is asking for. However in addition to the helicopter deal Russia and India also signed a deal for the construction of 4 blocks of a nuclear powerplant by Russia in India.

http://newsru.com/world/05dec2008/bendovbhodu.html

 

[macman]

Probably best to compromise a little, even if they lose a little money on this one...

Sevmash did stuff up the order initially, even if it was under another director, & have made decent strides since then in pulling themselves together, atleast from what I gather.

Think they have enough orders & state backing now to take a bit of a hit.