Who’s Powering India’s Helicopters? The Untold Ukrainian Network Behind MI-17 Engine Trials

In a strategic effort spanning Kyiv, Dubai, and New Delhi, a cluster of Indian firms—backed and funded by Non-Resident Indian businessman Sumant Kapur Holding British Passport —is working to insert Ukrainian helicopter engine technologies into the Indian Air Force’s (IAF) operational ecosystem. The campaign, involving former military officers and international associates, aims to bring Ukrainian alternatives to India’s traditionally Russian-supplied MI-17 fleet.

At the centre of this push are three firms: Ivchenko Progress India Pvt Ltd, Aqila Technologies and Integration Solutions Pvt Ltd, and Zorya Mashproekt India Pvt Ltd. Each is structured for a specific role—marketing, integration, and licensing of Ukrainian-origin aero engines.

A Coordinated Corporate Web

Ivchenko Progress India Pvt Ltd presents itself as a facilitator of indigenous aero engine capability and claims affiliation with Ukrainian defence majors Ivchenko Progress SE and Motor Sich JSC. Its key directors include:

• Shalini Kapoor – Director, sister of Kyiv-based operator Pawan Khaba

• Air Commodore (Retd.) Ashutosh Lal – Former Air Attaché to Ukraine

Aqila Technologies, focused on defence systems integration, is led by:

• Air Commodore (Retd.) Ajay Rathore – Managing Director

• Rajat Kapoor – Director

• Wing Commander (Retd.) Sudhir Verma – CEO

Zorya Mashproekt India Pvt Ltd lists among its directors:

• Shalini Kapoor

• Varun Sunil Shah

• Guru Prasad Biswal

Though registered as separate entities, these companies are closely interlinked—operationally, financially, and strategically aligned to deliver a coordinated pitch to the Indian defence establishment.

From Kyiv to IAF Trials

Internal records and source accounts confirm that Sumant Kapur funded the import of two MI-17 helicopter engines from Ukraine to India for trials with the IAF. These shipments, approved through Western-aligned oversight mechanisms, reflect a serious effort to position Ukrainian products within India’s defence landscape.

All Ukrainian defence exports operate under close monitoring due to NATO-aligned support and ongoing Western oversight of military hardware, especially since the war with Russia intensified. Entities like Ivchenko Progress SE and Motor Sich JSC cannot export without compliance clearances.

The Team Behind the Push

Sumant Kapur's network features a constellation of retired officers and strategic operatives:

• Air Commodore (Retd.) Ajay Rathore – Oversees Ukraine-Russia engagement, Kapoor’s key aide

• Air Commodore (Retd.) Ashutosh Lal – Liaison with Ukrainian firms during and after his IAF tenure

• Arun Sawhney – Ties to India’s defence procurement circuit

• Col (Retd.) Anil Yadav, Krishnan Sendhil Kumar, Wing Commander (Retd.) Rakesh K.R. Madhra, Rajat Kapoor, and Pushpanadhan Vellaparambil (Dubai) – Handle operations, coordination, and financial structuring

• Pawan Khaba – Ground support in Kyiv; his sister Shalini Kapoor serves as a director across several firms

 

Strategic Pitch to Government

During Prime Minister Modi’s visit to Ukraine, Sumant Kapur and key aides pitched Ivchenko engines as a viable alternative for India’s helicopter fleet. The Indian office—based at Le Meridien, New Delhi—functions as the group’s operational hub, reportedly funded directly by Sumant Kapur and overseen by Shalini and Rajat Kapoor.

Bharat Forge Enters the Frame

In December 2023, Bharat Forge acquired a 51% stake in Zorya Mashproekt India Pvt Ltd, signalling deeper domestic integration of Ukrainian defence technologies. The move is seen as a formal entry point for this ecosystem into India’s established industrial defence players.

A Tilt Away from Moscow?

India has traditionally sourced helicopter engines from Russia. The Ukrainian effort—driven by Sumant Kapur’s coordinated structure—marks a potential pivot in sourcing. Observers see this as part of a quiet shift toward competitive multi-source procurement, though it brings potential implications tied to Western-aligned geopolitical dependencies.

 

Leveraging his deep-rooted influence, Sumant Kapur is believed to have played a decisive role in tilting the Mi-17 helicopter upgrade contract away from Russia’s Rosoboronexport (RoE) in favour of Israeli defence major Elbit Systems. According to sources familiar with the matter, Kapur’s team allegedly provided crucial benchmarking data and internal assessments from the Indian Air Force, prompting the Russians to submit an inflated bid—ultimately costing them the deal.

A long-time figure in the shadowy corridors of arms negotiations, Kapur has repeatedly surfaced on the radar of Indian investigative agencies. His name figured prominently in the 2006 Soltam/Barak defence procurement case and resurfaced in the 2017 Rolls-Royce engine bribery investigation, which remains open. Both the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and the Enforcement Directorate (ED) declined to comment on the status of ongoing inquiries.

Sumat Kapur used same clout to take away from Russian Mi-17 helicopter upgrade project / contract and made Israeli  win it. His clout had necessary inside inputs of  IAF

Conclusion

What began as a private initiative is now reshaping India’s defence procurement corridors. Kapur’s network—structured, resourced, and operationally agile—is pushing for space in one of the most sensitive corners of India’s strategic domain.

Whether this Ukrainian-led bid secures a firm foothold—or encounters resistance from entrenched suppliers—remains a story in progress.