India Ready for Joint Production of 200 Ka-226 Helicopters With Russia

New Delhi is ready to co-produce with Russia some 200 Ka-226 helicopters in India, Russian Minister of Trade and Industry Denis Manturov said Tuesday.

"India is ready for joint cooperation of this modification [Ka-226T] of the helicopter in terms of co-production in India in an amount of at least about 200 units," Manturov told Rossiya-24 TV channel.

A preliminary agreement on the production of Ka-226T light multirole helicopters — NATO reporting name Hoodlum — was reached after talks between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in December 2014.

With a maximum take-off weight of 4,000 tons, the Ka-226T is designed for cargo and passenger transportation to hard-to-reach mountainous areas and rescue and patrol operations.