Did Boeing Just Clinch $2.4 Billion Worth of Defense Deals in India?

Boeing looks set to win military contracts worth $2.4 billion from India for its Chinook and Apache helicopters, a report said Monday.

Dow Jones Newswires, quoting an unidentified Indian Air Force official, said commercial negotiations would begin soon for the purchase of 15 Chinook CH-47F heavy-lift helicopters and 22 AH-64D Block III Apache helicopters.

The transaction would mark a big shift for India away from its traditional supplier Russia.

Boeing’s twin-rotor Chinook was chosen recently as the preferred bidder over Russia-based MiL Moscow Helicopter Plant’s Mi-26, while the Apache was selected over the Mi-28, Dow Jones reported.

It quoted another person familiar with the matter as saying the Chinook deal was estimated at $1 billion while the Apache deal was worth $1.4 billion.

There was no immediate comment available from the Indian Air Force or Boeing.