India to provide MI-Series choppers to Tajikistan

[AVERAGE INDIAN]

India will soon provide medium- lift choppers to Tajikistan and dedicate a hospital there as part of efforts to build on the strategic ties between the two countries against the backdrop of US-led troops preparing to pull out from Afghanistan next year.

The 50-bed hospital would be inaugurated by Defence Minister A K Antony who is expected to visit there next month, Defence Ministry officials told PTI here.

The decision to provide the Russian-origin Mi-series choppers and build a hospital in Tajikistan were taken during the visit of its President Emomali Rahmon's visit to India last August, they said.

The hospital was airlifted by the Indian Air Force recently which would help in providing specialist care to the local Tajik population in the southern part of the country.

India had earlier also built a hospital in Tajikistan in Farkhor there in the late 90s on the Tajik-Afghan border to treat wounded Northern Alliance fighters battling against the then ruling Taliban regime.

India has also developed the Ayni airbase near the Tajik capital Dushanbe, which provided it a foothold in the Central Asian region.

India had deployed its Army and Border Roads Organisation personnel to upgrade the airbase by extending its runway, constructing an air-traffic control tower and perimeter fencing around the base.

The Ayni airbase was completed by India in 2008 after encountering minor problems there and had deployed over 100 personnel there for facilitating operations there.

India to provide choppers to Tajikistan | Business Standard

 

[Vishwarupa]

Its a good initiative but do we have enough helicopters to give to other countries? Also India should offer training to Tajikistan forces & we should let them study in our Defense academy.

 

[TrueSpirit]

India will soon provide medium- lift choppers to Tajikistan

Would like to understand the exact nature of this transaction: it is simply donation, or lend-lease, or joint ownership agreement ?

Another thing, why restrict to just Mi-Series? Though, it is plausible that the support infrastructure & expertise is already there for the Mi-class but the same can be easily created for the indigenous ALH, as well. ALH has a well-defined air-ambulance configuration that has been doing its job pretty well, since last few years.

Has India offered ALH to Central Asia/West Asian & South-East Asian markets, or lack of interest or absence of purchasing power in these nations has denied any such prospects? So far, only a handful of nations like Israel, Nepal, Ecuador, Suriname, Mauritius, Maldives, Turkey & Peru operate the ALH & that too, in very limited quantities.

I believe, HAL & Indian Defence PSU's should expand their joint-marketing efforts for ALH, Brahmos & other indigenous offerings by collaborating with Israeli, Turkish, Vietnamese, Singaporean, Brazilian & South-African companies, so that we can cover all geographies, seamlessly.

 

[Jagdish58]

Would like to understand the exact nature of this transaction: it is simply donation, or lend-lease, or joint ownership agreement ?

Another thing, why restrict to just Mi-Series? Though, it is plausible that the support infrastructure & expertise is already there for the Mi-class but the same can be easily created for the indigenous ALH, as well. ALH has a well-defined air-ambulance configuration that has been doing its job pretty well, since last few years.

Has India offered ALH to Central Asia/West Asian & South-East Asian markets, or lack of interest or absence of purchasing power in these nations has denied any such prospects? So far, only a handful of nations like Israel, Nepal, Ecuador, Suriname, Mauritius, Maldives, Turkey & Peru operate the ALH & that too, in very limited quantities.

I believe, HAL & Indian Defence PSU's should expand their joint-marketing efforts for ALH, Brahmos & other indigenous offerings by collaborating with Israeli, Turkish, Vietnamese, Singaporean, Brazilian & South-African companies, so that we can cover all geographies, seamlessly.

Yes this should be the way to go endorse ALH instead of MI's , this will help in export & higher demand for already proven Dhruv & in future Rudra & LCH

but it is all in the hands of Defence ministry & foreign ministry on taking up with 3rd world countries & endorseing the products which India will wish to export :thumb:

 

[pmaitra]

Its a good initiative but do we have enough helicopters to give to other countries? Also India should offer training to Tajikistan forces & we should let them study in our Defense academy.

I think we will be buying them from Russia and giving to the Tajiks.