The Navy has begun a multi-billion dollar hunt to procure hundreds of helicopters. The Request for Information for 111 Naval Utility Helicopters and 123 naval Multi-Role helicopters was issued on Tuesday. “The global tenders were issued to global Original Equipment Manufacturers under the recently approved Strategic Partnership model,” a Navy source said.
The NUH will replace the vintage Chetak helicopters in service. Earlier efforts to replace the Chetaks had repeatedly failed.
The SP model was approved in May in an attempt to develop the domestic defence manufacturing. The model forms the Chapter 7 under the Defence Procurement Procedure.