India will purchase 71 helicopters from Russia

The Indian Air Force (IAF) plans to buy 71 more Mi-17 V5s, including 12 for the Ministry of Interior.

59 helicopters will be supplied to the Indian Air Force to replace the obsolete Mi-8 and Mi-17IV. The remainder will be distributed to other Indian agencies. On Thursday, the Indian Air Force took delivery of 80 Mi-17V-5 tactical transport helicopters (deal value $ 1.3 billion).
In 2008, India has already purchased 20 Russian machines from Kazan Helicopter Plant. Part of the helicopters will be delivered in 2014.
The Mi-17V-5, can carry up to 36 passengers or four tons of cargo.
India has the world's largest fleet of Mi-8, Mi-17 helicopters, including more than 200 machines. The Mi-8, Mi-17 family is the most popular helicopter brand in the world. 11,000 machines fly in more than 110 countries around the world.

Based on foreign press for ForTrader.org