Army Urges US to Reconsider Helicopter Proposal: Needs Only Two Helicopters and Four Aircraft

Kathmandu — The Nepali Army has urged the United States to reconsider its proposed assistance of six helicopters worth approximately $100 million. The Nepali Army has requested the US to reconsider the proposal that was put forward during the previous government’s tenure.

The Nepali Army has stated that it currently needs only two small helicopters and, in addition, four fixed-wing aircraft, urging a reconsideration of the old proposal. Discussions are ongoing between officials of the foreign ministries of both countries and the Nepali Army regarding this matter.

An agreement had already been reached earlier to provide two helicopters to the Nepali Army as assistance, and those helicopters are expected to arrive in Nepal next year. That assistance was announced during the visit of then-US Under Secretary of State Richard Verma to Nepal. After the Nepali Army requested reconsideration of the proposal, citing the need for some aircraft for rescue and development construction work, further discussions are understood to be underway.