Originally posted by Monash
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This specific order was for heavy lift choppers, and given that both the Chinook and the Mi-26 passed the ASQR, it's probably not a surprise that Chinook would be cheaper to operate than hauling around in a much larger Mi-26, when a Chinook can do the same job. (It doesn't make economic sense flying around a half loaded Mi-26). If even heavier loads are required, than we still have the Mi-26s already in service. These choppers are not their replacement, AFAIK.
I think the political angle in Indian defence deals is overblown. If a political statement had to be made, a very strong one could've been made with the MMRCA, but it's the military which decides, not the government. This has been the major shift from the past.
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