India’s Ministry of Defence (MoD) has approved the import of 10 Russian-made Kamov Ka-31 Helix airborne early warning and control (AEW&C) helicopters for the Indian Navy (IN) for INR36 billion (USD518 million) to augment the service’s ‘situational awareness’ at sea.
MoD’s Defence Acquisition Council (DAC), which is headed by Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, had sanctioned the purchase of the twin-engined Ka-31s on 3 May as a follow-on order to at least 12 similar platforms that have been in IN service since 2003.
They said eight of the 10 proposed rotorcraft would be embarked aboard the IN’s four Admiral Grigorovich (Project 11356M)-class stealth frigates, two of which are under construction in Russia with the remaining two being licence-built in India.
The remaining two helicopters are expected to be operated from Vikrant, the IN’s future 40,642-tonne aircraft carrier that is scheduled to begin sea trials in 2020.
The Ka-31 is fitted with the rotating E-801M Oko (Eye) early-warning radar that provides 360º coverage.
IN officers said the new Ka-31s are expected to assist the force in surveillance missions as well as tracking enemy targets and transmitting such data back to their respective command posts for further action.
Indian MoD approved procurement of 10 Russian-made Kamov Ka-31 | |
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| News & Politics | Upload TimePublished on 12 May 2019 |
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