India's defense ministry has been asking for extensions, a Boeing India executive says. "We did provide them as and when appropriate," he says. "It is not always possible to keep extending, because we live in a world where we feel inflationary pressure."

The 5.5-ton, twin-engine Dhruv, manufactured by the state-run Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd. (HAL), has been clocking a worrisome safety record recently, with three accidents in less than a month.

After nearly three decades, India is sending its indigenous lightweight fighter aircraft to its air force, although full operational capability and a naval version are still in the works.