Indian Coast Guard Set To Get EC725 cougar helicopter

[WolfPack86]

Coast Guard to get its airfield in Maharashtra

Proposed in 2006 and approved by the Maharashtra government soon after the 26/11 terror attack, the Indian Coast Guard (ICG) Ratnagiri airbase will be finally functional by the year-end.

The airfield is expected to provide key logistic support for the Coast Guard on the western coastal areas covering 3,500 km. The Coast Guard, which now has bases in Daman and Kochi, plans to station its Dornier planes and helicopters at Ratnagiri. So far the Coast Guard has a fixed and a rotary wing squadron at Daman and a rotary wing squadron in Mumbai. Ratnagiri, being the only air station south of Mumbai before Goa, will be crucial for the maritime security..

The work on the airstrip is in its final leg and sources indicated that by December this year the CG can accommodate as many of 40 aircraft from the Ratnagiri base, including 72 and 80 seaters. The Coast Guard plans to station Chetaks and advanced light helicopters which are used for reconnaissance and rescue operations.
https://www.facebook.com/pg/TejasMrca/photos/?ref=page_internal

 

[WolfPack86]

GOVT CONTRACTS NEEDED TO JUMP-START DEFENCE MANUFACTURING IN INDIA: AIRBUS
Keen to make India global hub for Panther helicopters
Pierre de Bausset, Airbus India’s President and Managing Director, said the government has to start placing large-scale contracts to boost manufacturing in the defense sector. In an interview with BusinessLine, he said Airbus has offered ₹5,000 crore as potential investments which will come in when it obtains defense programs from the government. Excerpts:
PIERRE DE BAUSSET, President and MD, Airbus India

What is the update on your collaboration with Mahindra for military helicopters manufacturing?
We want to put India on the world map for military helicopter manufacturing together with Mahindra Defense. To that effect, our partnership with Mahindra envisages creation of a private sector champion in India for manufacturing military helicopters. This includes the Naval Utility Helicopter (NUH), Reconnaissance & Surveillance Helicopter (RSH) and Naval Multi-Role Helicopter (NMRH). When released, the chapter on ‘Strategic Partnerships’ under the Defense Procurement Policy (DPP), may also influence the contours of our collaboration and offering to India.
How is your proposal to build a final assembly line for the Panther helicopter in India developing?

We are proposing to set up a final assembly line in India and make it the global hub for Panther helicopters. The production line will fulfill the Indian order as well as meet export demand. The proposal will materialize if we are awarded the Naval Utility Helicopter (NUH) program.

What is the latest on the C295W program?
The evaluation of our proposal to build the C295W in India with TATA is advancing. The part of the field evaluation trials we were involved in is over.

Tell us about the growth of your defense business in India?
‘Make in India’ is at the heart of our business strategy and you will see that our engagement with India goes beyond just sales. There is a lot of engagement on the industrial level. On the defense side, in particular, we are offering the C295W as a replacement for the Avro aircraft. As I just said, the proposal is advancing as per the DPP. Together with TATA, the program holds out the promise of creating a world-class private sector aircraft manufacturing capability in India within an ambitious time-frame, and nurturing a widened supplier base with an increasingly skilled workforce.

I have already touched upon the partnership with Mahindra Defense to produce military helicopters in India. To add to that, even before we have a contract from the government, we have started working with Mahindra on an industrial level. Last year, we awarded a contract to Mahindra Aerostructures to make air frame parts for the Panther. These parts will be produced at the Mahindra facility in Bangalore. They will be shipped to the Airbus Helicopter production line in Marignane, France, where they will be integrated with the rest of the air frame assembly and will form a critical part of the Panthers sold worldwide.

What is the status of the Coast Guard competition for 14 twin-engine Heavy Helicopters and are you are offering a MRO for the EC725 as part of the offer?

The EC725, now marketed globally as the H225M, has been selected by the Indian Coast Guard, and we are in the final contract stage with the customer. Yes, as part of our offer, a MRO facility to structure the Performance Based Logistics support package for these helicopters is proposed in Goa. All 14 EC725 will be re-assembled and flight-tested there. It is going to be a green-field project. The facility will include intermediate and depot level maintenance.

What happened to the mid-air tanker deal?
The outstanding RFP for the acquisition was withdrawn by the Ministry of Defense last year. We have no new information.
Are you on track to achieving a target of over $2 billion worth of procurement in India till 2020 covering both civil as well as defense?

We crossed $500 million in annual procurement from India in 2015 and had given the guidance of exceeding $2 billion in cumulative procurement in the next five years up to 2020. I can say that we are well poised to beat our own expectations.
You said last year Airbus’ investments into India could exceed ₹5,000 crore. How much of that has fructified so far?
The figure refers to potential investments across all the deference ‘Make in India’ and industrialization programs we are pursuing along with our partners in India.
How much of it fructifies depends on the programs we receive from the Indian government. As I mentioned in my earlier responses, a number of proposals are in the pipeline. But these are not the only investments.

How do you read the several policy announcements made by the government in boosting manufacturing in defense?
What has been done is to lay the groundwork.
What is needed now is for the government to award a few large scale contracts to jump start Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) and manufacturing activity as part of ‘Make in India’ in the aerospace and defense sector.
http://www.indiandefensenews.in/2017/04/govt-contracts-needed-to-jump-start.html

 

[WolfPack86]

Rajnath Singh to decide on ₹10,000 crore worth defence deals in August

• The Defence Acquisition Council is the highest decision-making body in the defence ministry
• During the DAC meeting, the Defence Minister will also take a call on the proposed procurement of two electronic warfare systems
• NEW DELHI: In his maiden Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) meeting, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh is scheduled to decide on acquisition of weapon systems worth around ₹10,000 crore including choppers and electronic warfare systems.
  
  The first defence acquisition council meeting to be chaired by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh is scheduled to take place in August first week in the south block. This is also the first time that the DAC would be meeting after the Narendra Modi government returned to power.
  
  "At present, the Defence Minister is scheduled to decide on a case related to the acquisition of 14 medium-lift choppers for the Indian Coast Guard which are likely to cost more than₹7,000 crore," government sources told ANI.
  
  The case is for the acquisition of 14 choppers and a tender is planned to be issued to multiple vendors from Europe, America and Russia for supplying these helicopters, they said.
  
  The case was processed earlier also but had to be scrapped by the Defence Ministry due to certain discrepancies in it. A European vendor had been selected as the lowest bidder over an American firm in the previous process.
  
  
• The Defence Acquisition Council is the highest decision-making body in the defence ministry for deciding on new policies and capital acquisitions for the three services and the Indian Coast Guard. The DAC also gives final clearance for projects worth upto ₹2,000 crore.
  
  During the DAC meeting, the Defence Minister will also take a call on the proposed procurement of two electronic warfare systems for deployment along the Pakistan and China border by the Indian Army.
  
  Though the DAC is meeting for the first time since the new government was formed, the Modi administration has already spent around Rs. 8500 crore for meeting the emergency requirement of the forces in its first 50 days.
  
  Weapon systems such as the Spice 2000 stand off bombs and Spike anti-tank guided missiles from Israel, Strum Ataka air-launched ATGM and several other spare parts from Russia have been acquired under these powers by the Indian Air Force.
• https://www.livemint.com/politics/p...th-defence-deals-in-august-1563971925369.html

 

[abingdonboy]

Rajnath Singh to decide on ₹10,000 crore worth defence deals in August

• 
  
  
  • The Defence Acquisition Council is the highest decision-making body in the defence ministry
  • During the DAC meeting, the Defence Minister will also take a call on the proposed procurement of two electronic warfare systems
  • NEW DELHI: In his maiden Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) meeting, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh is scheduled to decide on acquisition of weapon systems worth around ₹10,000 crore including choppers and electronic warfare systems.
    
    The first defence acquisition council meeting to be chaired by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh is scheduled to take place in August first week in the south block. This is also the first time that the DAC would be meeting after the Narendra Modi government returned to power.
    
    "At present, the Defence Minister is scheduled to decide on a case related to the acquisition of 14 medium-lift choppers for the Indian Coast Guard which are likely to cost more than₹7,000 crore," government sources told ANI.
    
    The case is for the acquisition of 14 choppers and a tender is planned to be issued to multiple vendors from Europe, America and Russia for supplying these helicopters, they said.
    
    The case was processed earlier also but had to be scrapped by the Defence Ministry due to certain discrepancies in it. A European vendor had been selected as the lowest bidder over an American firm in the previous process.
  • The Defence Acquisition Council is the highest decision-making body in the defence ministry for deciding on new policies and capital acquisitions for the three services and the Indian Coast Guard. The DAC also gives final clearance for projects worth upto ₹2,000 crore.
    
    During the DAC meeting, the Defence Minister will also take a call on the proposed procurement of two electronic warfare systems for deployment along the Pakistan and China border by the Indian Army.
    
    Though the DAC is meeting for the first time since the new government was formed, the Modi administration has already spent around Rs. 8500 crore for meeting the emergency requirement of the forces in its first 50 days.
    
    Weapon systems such as the Spice 2000 stand off bombs and Spike anti-tank guided missiles from Israel, Strum Ataka air-launched ATGM and several other spare parts from Russia have been acquired under these powers by the Indian Air Force.
  • https://www.livemint.com/politics/p...th-defence-deals-in-august-1563971925369.html

FFS so they are going re-tender this after having selected H225M?

Yeah these are never going to come. Might as well wait for IMRH now.

 

[WolfPack86]

Defence ministry to decide on buying two BrahMos missile coastal batteries to tackle enemy warships
NEW DELHI: In his first Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) meeting, defence minister Rajnath Singh will decide on acquisition of weapon systems worth around Rs 12,000 crore including the procurement of two Brahmossupersonic cruise missile batteries for the Indian Navy.

The meeting is scheduled to be held on Thursday in which the defence minister is also going to take a call on several acquisitions from both India and abroad.

"The two mobile missile coastal batteries have to be acquired for the Navy. The Navy would deploy the Rs 1400 crore BrahMos supersonic cruise missile batteries on the Tatra trucks close to major cities from where it can destroy any incoming enemy warship in case it is posing any threat," government sources said.
The Navy wants to use the two BrahMos missile batteries to replace its existing systems which have become old and need replacement, they said.

In the DAC meeting, Singh is scheduled to take a call on the acquisition of 14 medium-lift choppers for the Indian Coast Guard which are likely to cost more than Rs 7,000 crore.
The meeting will also take a call on the deviations in the proposal for acquisition and manufacturing of AK-203 assault rifles between India and Russia.

The defence minister will also decide on the proposed procurement of two electronic warfare systems for deployment along the Pakistan and China borders.


Though the DAC is meeting for the first time since the new government was formed, the Narendra Modi administration has already spent around Rs 8500 crore for meeting the emergency requirement of the forces in its first 50 days.
Weapon systems such as the Spice 2000 stand off bombs and Spike anti-tank guided missiles from Israel, Strum Ataka air-launched ATGM and several other spare parts from Russia have been acquired under these powers by the Indian Air Force
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com...ackle-enemy-warships/articleshow/70574459.cms

 

[WolfPack86]

" France is...keen to sell about 18 Caracal helicopters for the Indian Coast Guard, as well as almost 100 heavy “Panther” helicopters for the Indian Navy ,"

 

[WolfPack86]

Defence ministry cancelled ec 725 caracal and issuesing re tender. I hope this time they will select S-92 helicopter. Already Tata advance system limited building S- 92 cabine.

 

[abingdonboy]

Defence ministry cancelled ec 725 caracal and issuesing re tender. I hope this time they will select S-92 helicopter. Already Tata advance system limited building S- 92 cabine.

Source?? Haven’t seen this news yet. It would be weird to cancel it now after DAC has cleared it

 

[Armand2REP]

Source?? Haven’t seen this news yet. It would be weird to cancel it now after DAC has cleared it

Airbus cancelled their offer after a whistleblower revealed irregularities and they conducted an internal investigation into the use of intermediaries. Airbus cannot afford to get blacklisted like Leonardo so they will come back with a clean offer and deal directly with MoD. Since Leonardo is blacklisted there cannot be a competition until Airbus comes back to the table.

 

[WolfPack86]

Airbus cancelled their offer after a whistleblower revealed irregularities and they conducted an internal investigation into the use of intermediaries. Airbus cannot afford to get blacklisted like Leonardo so they will come back with a clean offer and deal directly with MoD. Since Leonardo is blacklisted there cannot be a competition until Airbus comes back to the table.

Is really Eurocopter H-225 helicopter for Indian coast guard is cancelled?.

 

[Armand2REP]

Is really Eurocopter H-225 helicopter for Indian coast guard is cancelled?.

The offer expired so it is defacto cancelled. You can't have a competition with only one contender.

 

[darshan978]

The offer expired so it is defacto cancelled. You can't have a competition with only one contender.

Why import when we have all rounder dhruv?
Kickbacks?

 

[Armand2REP]

Why import when we have all rounder dhruv?
Kickbacks?

Dhruv is not in the same weight class.

 

[WolfPack86]

Dhruv is not in the same weight class.

Maharastra police placed order for one Eurocopter H-145 helicopter for anti-naxal operation. When will helicopter arrive.

 

[Armand2REP]

Maharastra police placed order for one Eurocopter H-145 helicopter for anti-naxal operation. When will helicopter arrive.

It was already delivered at the end of September. Why didn't they order Dhruv?

 

[WolfPack86]

It was already delivered at the end of September. Why didn't they order Dhruv?

Do you have pictures of Maharastra police Eurocopter H-145 helicopter. Dhruv helicopter is in service with Jharkhand police.

 

[WolfPack86]

Approval for $910-mn global tender for 14 Coast Guard long-range choppers on the cards
The Indian Coast Guard programme to acquire 14 Twin Engine Heavy Helicopters (TEHH) is finally set to take off, with the Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) slated to consider approval for issuance of a Buy Global tender reportedly worth 6,500 Crore ($910.8 Million) in a meeting scheduled to be chaired by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on November 28.

These long-rage helicopters are meant to close gaps in coastal surveillance capability exposed by the 26/11 terror attack from the sea on Mumbai in 2008. The Coast Guard is seeking helicopter endurance of over 6 hours for sustained surveillance capability to protect India’s coastline and to monitor its 2 million square km Exclusive Economic Zone. This would be a major upgrade from its current heliborne capability represented by the Chetak and Advanced Light Helicopters.

This is the second attempt of the Coast Guard to acquire these helicopters. The earlier tender was scrapped in 2018 after Airbus, which presented the winning bid with its EC-725, declined to extend the price validity any farther after having done so a reported nine times. This was also followed by allegations of wrong-doing in clinching the contract

This is the second attempt of the Coast Guard to acquire these helicopters. The earlier tender was scrapped in 2018 after Airbus, which presented the winning bid with its EC-725, declined to extend the price validity any farther after having done so a reported nine times. This was also followed by allegations of wrong-doing in clinching the contract. The Lockheed Martin-Sikorsky S-92 was the other helicopter which was considered. Both were technically compliant but Airbus submitted the cheaper bid (L1).

The aborted process was given a fresh lease of with the issuance of an RFI late 2018 for 14 TEHH for “maritime surveillance, interdiction and search and rescue operations, with the capability to stage through operations from advanced offshore patrol vessels (OPVs)”. The RFI also stipulated a capacity to lift 30 personnel.

The re-run of the competition is expected to feature an essentially similar field involving the EC-725 – now called the Airbus H225M and the S-92.
https://www.defencenews.in/article/...Guard-long-range-choppers-on-the-cards-768207

 

[WolfPack86]

JUST IN: Indian MoD clears path for acquisition of 14 twin-engine heavy helicopters (TEHH) for the
@IndiaCoastGuard
. The
@AirbusHeli
H225M is reported to be ahead in a two-horse race against the
@Sikorsky
S-92.

 

[shankyz]

Navy should be getting Helis first. Our Frigates & Destroyers are without this critical necessity for a hell of a long time.

114 Naval Multirole Helicopters deal is still hanging fire, so is the 24 MH60 Romeo helicopters deal which is still not inked.

And here comes news that Coast Guard getting Eurocopters first.

 

[abingdonboy]

Navy should be getting Helis first. Our Frigates & Destroyers are without this critical necessity for a hell of a long time.

114 Naval Multirole Helicopters deal is still hanging fire, so is the 24 MH60 Romeo helicopters deal which is still not inked.

And here comes news that Coast Guard getting Eurocopters first.

How are these things mutually exclusive?


Navy has nothing to do with ICG requirements. ICG needs these for long range SAR and this is no joke, India has a MASSIVE SAR area of responsibility that it just isn’t able to take care of today- a frankly criminal oversight.


FYI if ICG doesn’t get these helos guess where they will have to be taken from to cover this requirement- the already depleted Navy’s airwing.