In a major decision, the Defence Ministry yesterday gave its nod to acquisition of 111 utility helicopters for the Navy at a cost of over Rs 21,000 crore besides approving separate procurement proposals worth nearly Rs 25,000 crore, according to officials.

A meeting of the Defence Acquisition Council (DAC), the ministry's highest decision-making body on procurement, cleared the proposals. The procurement of the naval utility helicopters will be the first project under the ambitious strategic partnership (SP) model, which provides for roping in private firm to build select military platforms in India in partnership with foreign defence manufacturers.