The Special Protection Group, which ensures the safety of the Indian Prime Minister, has selected Mi-17V-5 helicopters to transport VIPs. The 12 VIP vehicles will be chosen from the 150 helicopters delivered to India by the Kazan Helicopter Plant, which is a subsidiary of the holding company Russian Helicopters.

India’s current Mi-8/17 VIP helicopters, which were acquired during the Soviet era, will be decommissioned in February and converted to Mi-17V-5 models. The renovated helicopters should be ready by the beginning of the 2014 Indian Parliament election campaign.

Eight helicopters were selected for transporting senior government officials, with an additional four reserved for the Special Protection Group. The helicopters feature missile defence and evacuation systems. All of the aircraft will be part of the government’s communication squadron, which is part of the Indian Air Force’s central command at Palam Airbase.

Additionally, by the end of 2014, Radio-electronic Technologies (KRET), which is part of Rostec, will provide Russian Helicopters with 76 sets of high-tech avionics, including the KNEI-8 navigation and electronic systems, for the Mi-17V-5. Ryazan State Instrument Plant, which is part of KRET, developed the system.