The government has decided to buy two MI-17 helicopters for the Royal Nepalese Army (RNA) as part of making effective the latter’s drive against the Maoist insurgents.

A recent meeting of the Council of Ministers approved a proposal of the Ministry of Defence to buy two MI-17 choppers for the RNA, Annapurna Post daily reported Wednesday quoting defence sources.

The report said the RNA had sent a proposal to the ministry outlining the need of sufficient number of helicopters for its increased number of forces as well as to make effective its operations against the Maoist insurgents. The RNA had proposed for four MI-17s but the cabinet, citing resource crunch, gave nod for the purchase of only two.

The government is set to approach the Russian company, Kajan, for the purchase of MI-17 helicopters with a capacity to carry 40 troops and an extra load of four tons, the daily further said. The cost of each MI-17 chopper is around US$5 million.

Currently, the RNA has some two dozen aircrafts including five MI-17s, two Lancers and two Indian Chita helicopters. Recently, the government had decided to buy two 56-seater aircraft from China.

Meanwhile, a senior RNA official told Nepalnews that the army had no information about the government decision to buy two MI-17 helicopters. “We don’t know if there have been deliberations at the ministerial level regarding such a plan.”