The President of India Pranab Mukherjee and Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be transported by Russian-produced Mi-17V-5 helicopters, Gazeta.ru reports with reference to The Times of India.

The decision was made by the Indian Ministry of Defense. Six Mi-17 helicopters converted to VVIP-versions will start performing flights in 2015. These vehicles will replace the outdated Mi-8s currently used for transporting VIP-persons, said in the article.

India decided to purchase these helicopters after termination of contract with AgustaWestland for delivery of 12 AW-101s signed in February 2010. The contract was terminated in light of bribery scandal, the newspaper noted.

According to Indian Air Forces Chief Air Chief Marshal Arup Raha, the upgrade of Mi-17 helicopters will take six months. At that, the newspaper stressed that in the long-term India will have to look for new helicopters for VIP-persons, because Mi-17V-5 will not be able to serve as proper replacement.