This is an archive article published on September 29, 2015

$3-bn chopper deal sealed with Boeing

“Contracts for purchasing 15 Chinook and 22 Apache Helicopters (have been) signed," Defence Ministry spokesperson Sitanshu Kar said.

1 min readNew DelhiDec 25, 2015 11:37 PM IST First published on: Sep 29, 2015 at 02:46 AM IST

Just two days before its price was slated to expire, India on Monday signed deals with Boeing for 22 attack and 15 heavy-lift choppers. This is the biggest defence deal the BJP-led government has signed since it came to power. The cabinet had approved the $3-billion deal on September 22. The delivery of the choppers will begin three-four years later.

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“Contracts for purchasing 15 Chinook and 22 Apache Helicopters (have been) signed,” Defence Ministry spokesperson Sitanshu Kar said. Ministry sources said the choppers’ price was slated to expire on September 30.

As per fine print, the Chinook contract has been signed directly with Boeing, whereas the Apache deal has been signed partly with Boeing and partly with the US government through its Foreign Military Sales route. Thus, the Apache choppers will be bought from Boeing but the military hardware will be bought from the US government.