NEW DELHI, India -- India Wednesday formally announced the signing of agreements with three British firms for the purchase of advanced Sea King helicopters for the Indian Navy.
Defense Minister R. Venkataraman told parliament that the contracts for the 20 anti-submarine helicopters were concluded Tuesday with Westland Helicopters Ltd.
The helicopters will delivered within two years.
The $300 million deal also includes Sea Eagle anti-sNip missiles built by British aerospace and helicopter engines made by Rolls Royce along with other support and weapons systems.
Indian expert considered the French Aerospatiale's Super Puma A-332 helicopters but opted for the Sea King after the Sea Eagle missiles were made part of the deal.
The agreements pushed British weapons sales to India over the last three years to about $3 billion.
This makes Britain Indians second largest arms supplier after the Soviet Union, which sold India about $4 billion in weapons since 1979. France now takes third spot.
