Russian Helicopters Holding Company (part of Rostec State Corporation) is going to open a training center in India in the near-term in order to train personnel for Russian-produced helicopters, RIA Novosti reports with reference to Russian Helicopters Deputy CEO Sales, Grigory Kozlov.

"Russian Helicopters are going to establish a training center in India soon in order to train personnel for Ka-226T, Mi-8/17 helicopters, etc. The center will help improve the quality of personnel training inorder to decrease he accident rate," Kozlov said.

He added that the personnel would be trained “on behalf of Indian Ministry of Defense and civilian sector". Deliveries of Russian-produced helicopters to India were started in 1950s. At first India took delivery of Mi-4 helicopters and then - Mi-8/17 vehicles. India operates heavy Mi-26 helicopters, combat Mi-25/35 vehicles and carrier-based Ka-25, Ka-28 and Ka-31 rotorcraft.

Recently Russian Helicopters told RIA Novosti that Russia delivered 148 out of 151 Mi-17V-5 military-transport helicopters to India in 2012-2015 under a previously signed contract; the rest vehicles should be delivered to the customer this year.

In February at Aero India-2015 Russian Helicopters CEO Alexander Mikheev said that India operates over 300 Mi and Ka helicopters. He stated that Russian Helicopters is ready to overhaul and upgrade all the helicopters manufactured in USSR and Russia. An after-sales support program is also offered to Indian partners.