In what is touted to be the world's largest tender, the Indian Navy will issue a bid to procure more than 120 multi-role helicopters . It has already issued a global request for information in this regard, with detailed plans of the choppers it plans to acquire. Naval multi-role helicopters can be used to carry out anti-submarine warfare and surveillance roles as also anti-surface warfare.
Officials privy to the information told Business Line the demand for commercial helicopters in India is estimated at over $6 billion over the next 25-30 years. They said the Navy is in the midst of procuring 16 multirole helicopters. Eurocopter’s NH-90 and Sikorsky's S-70 Bravo are in the race.