India has announced a plan to increase its annual satellite launches to 12 next year, up from four-five now, to ramp up its tally in the global launch market.

India’s GSAT-17 and GSAT-18 satellites—proposed to augment the country’s telecommunication, television services and in-orbit back-up system—will be launched in 2016 and 2017.

India and Russia are likely to finalize an agreement for the manufacture of twin-engine Russian Kamov KA 226T helicopters in India.