India is considering flying its fleet of Soviet-made Mil Mi-26 heavy transport military helicopters again. These are aircraft that were part of the Indian Air Force (IAF), but remained grounded for years. The review process is expected to start within three months and should be completed within a year of signing the contract with a Russian company.

It was revealed by an indiscretion from the newspaper "The Tribune", which cites some officers of the Indian Air Force as sources. According to the latter, maintenance operations, aimed at putting these rotorcraft back into service, should take place at the Base Repair Depot in Chandigarh. The procedure involves assistance from Russian experts and specialists who, according to Indian media reports, recently traveled to New Delhi to discuss the details of the project.

The first Mil Mi-26 was decommissioned in 2013, while the remaining ones were grounded by 2017. This aircraft model made its first flight in December 1977 and entered service in 1983. It is a large dimensions, weighing over 28,000 kg, capable of accommodating up to 85 soldiers or 20,000 kg of goods. It has a cruising speed of 255 km/h and a range of 500 km.