Multi Role Helicopters (MRH) to be inducted into Indian Navy

[SpArK]

India issues RFI for multi-role naval helicopters​

India has issued a request for information for a naval multi-role helicopter (NMRH) to complement its existing fleet of Westland Sea King 42 anti-submarine warfare (ASW) helicopters.


The RFI calls for helicopters with a maximum all-up weight of between 9t and 12.5t. The NMRH, which will be expected to serve for 30 years, should have the capacity for 10% weight growth throughout its service life without hurting performance.

The navy foresees three primary roles: ASW, anti-surface warfare (ASuW), and special operations. Secondary roles include electronic intelligence, search and rescue (SAR), external cargo carrying, casualty evacuation and combat SAR.

Candidate helicopters must be able to operate from ships as small as the navy's Godavari-class frigates. They also need to be able to fit in shipboard hangars with a length of 15.5m (50.8ft), a width of 5.5m and a height of 5.3m.


"The NMRH should be a contemporary design with modern, reliable and fuel-efficient engines and fully integrated advanced avionics/weapons suite employing the latest concepts for detection, identification, classification of surface and sub-surface targets along with the ability to detect air targets," the RFI said.


It also outlines performance requirements for two variants: one focused on ASW/ASuW and the other for special operations.
For the former variant, India seeks an aircraft that can autonomously locate and destroy submarines, compile an integrated picture of the situation above and below the surface, and operate in all weather conditions.


The special operations variant needs the capability to carry unguided rockets and guns.

Possible candidates for the requirement could include the Lockheed Martin/Sikorsky MH-60R and NH Industries' NH90. The deal will require a minimum 30% offset obligation under Indian laws.

India issues RFI for multi-role naval helicopters

 

[ace009]

This should be moved to Indian Navy discussion board.

 

[Neil]

NEW DELHI: India is all set to formally launch the hunt for over 75 heavy-duty "stealthy'' naval helicopters with potent anti-submarine and anti-warship warfare capabilities, as also customized for amphibious assaults and commando operations against conventional, terror, piracy and other threats.

The Defence Acquisitions Council, chaired by defence minister A K Antony, on Friday discussed the mega naval multi-role helicopter (NMRH) project, which is likely to cost well over $2 billion.

"The global tender for NMRH will be issued soon. The project is likely to get even bigger at a later stage, with more such helicopters being ordered after the first 75. An initial lot will be obtained off-the-shelf from abroad, while the rest will be manufactured in India with the foreign collaborator's help,'' an MoD source said.

The NMRH acquisition will be in addition to the ongoing Rs 2,000 crore procurement of 16 multi-role helicopters, wherein the field trial evaluation report of European NH-90 and American Sikorsky-70B is now being examined by MoD to select the final winner.

Navy is also going in for new carrier-borne fighter jets, maritime patrol aircraft and drones, which together will cost around Rs 85,000 crore. These include 45 Russian MiG-29Ks for $2 billion and 12 American P-8I long-range reconnaissance aircraft for over $3 billion.

With China looming large on the radar screen, India wants to build a powerful three-dimensional Navy to protect its geostrategic interests stretching from Hormuz Strait to Malacca Strait. As part of the over Rs 300,000 crore long-term naval plans, 48 warships are already on order, as first reported by TOI.

"The NMRH, weighing 9-12.5 tonne each, will operate from the flight decks of frigates, destroyers and aircraft carriers. Five global aviation majors indicated their interest to our initial queries,'' said a source.

The new helicopters, with an operational life of over 30 years, will replace the older Sea King helicopters and meet requirements of the expanding Navy. Their "primary roles'' will include anti-submarine and anti-surface warfare, special and commando operations, and amphibious assault and troop carriage.

The "secondary roles'', in turn, will include electronic intelligence and anti-piracy, search and rescue, casualty evacuation and external cargo carrying. Navy wants the helicopters to be equipped with advanced avionics and weapons suites - including state-of-the-art-radars, light-weight torpedoes, depth charges, 70mm rockets and 20mm guns -- to "detect, identify, classify and destroy'' aerial, surface and sub-surface threats.

Incidentally, the Indian armed forces are planning the induction of over 900 helicopters over the next 15 years. They include 384 light-utility and observation, 139 medium-lift, 114 light combat, 22 heavy-duty attack, 15 heavy-lift, 12 VVIP, five maritime early-warning and, of course, 186 Dhruv advanced light helicopters.




:: Bharat-Rakshak.com - Indian Military News Headlines ::

 

[Neil]

nh-90 helo

nh-90 cockpit

s-70b helo

s-70b cockpit

 

[Neil]

Germany not happy with NH90 helicopter

BERLIN, Feb. 25 (UPI) -- The German armed forces are testing 13 new NH90 helicopters and they are not amused.

An internal military report, leaked to German mass daily Bild, blasted the many shortcomings of the multi-purpose helicopter developed and built by Eurocopter daughter NHIndustries. The 103-page report goes as far as recommending using alternative aircraft in operational scenarios.

Germany has ordered 122 NH90 for the army and the air force for around $6.2 billion but the testing of the pre-serial model revealed several deficiencies.

Clearance is so limited that soldiers have trouble getting in and out of the helicopter; the rear ramp is too weak to support fully equipped soldiers; the plane's floor is so sensitive that it can be cracked by boots; and the seats are unable to accommodate more than 240 pounds. The fact that modern infantry equipment weighs 55 pounds means that larger and more muscular soldiers will have to stay out.

The helicopters' limited interior space means that there is no room for a defensive machine gunner, a full infantry unit wearing their weapons and armor, and a combined troop and cargo load.

Officials from the German Defense Ministry said they informed Eurocopter about the deficiencies and asked the company to correct them.

Experts consider the trial-and-error flights a normal procedure for a product that needs to be tailored to the military's individual needs.

But the helicopter, for which planning dates to the 1980s, has a long history of problems.

The price for a single aircraft has tripled compared to initial estimates and the delivery date has been pushed back by three years to 2012.

The Germany navy had planned to order a variant of the helicopter, called MH90, but it hasn't placed an order because of delays and technical difficulties. The problem is that the German armed forces, and the four other partner nations -- France, Italy, the Netherlands and Portugal -- desperately need the new helicopter.

Twenty-three versions of the NH90 are in the making; first models are due to be delivered in 2012.

The delay and cost explosion of the NH90 puts the program in line with other European military projects gone wrong, including the missile defense system MEADS, the Eurofighter jet, and the Airbus A400M transport plane. In the case of the latter, partner nations and European Aeronautics Defense and Space on Thursday were nearing a final agreement over financing.



Germany not happy with NH90 helicopter - UPI.com


guess this makes it clear where the deal is going....!!

 

[Zebra]

Five global aviation majors indicated their interest to our initial queries , ( as per the report in post #1 ).

Any idea , which companies ? please .

 

[Neil]

Five global aviation majors indicated their interest to our initial queries , ( as per the report in post #1 ).

Any idea , which companies ? please .

AW 101 merlin and Sikorsky CH 148 Cyclone were in the competition but were rejected because they would not fit Godavari class frigates which was a requirement in RFP...

is MH 60 and S70 B different...?? if yes then D u got your 5 helis in the fray....!!

 

[Neil]

India rejects US offer, to go for open bidding for Navy deal

India has turned down an American offer to supply 16 multirole helicopters (MRH) through the Foreign Military Sales (FMS) route for its Navy and decided to go for open competitive bidding for the multi-billion dollar deal.

The US Navy had offered the MH-60 'Romeo' to meet Navy's requirement for 16 MRH through an inter-governmental agreement but the proposal was rejected, Defence Ministry sources said.

Under the FMS route, the procurement is done through inter-governmental agreements where the product is offered directly by the US government without any global tender being issued.

Following the Indian government's decision, only two contenders American S-70 Bravo and European NH-90 remain in the fray to take part in the field evaluation trials, the sources said. The trials are expected to start after March this year.

The tender was issued over two years ago in September 2008 and the two firms responded to the bids while the US Navy had offered its Romeo through the FMS route.


The Navy urgently requires the MRH to replace its aging SeaKing fleet inducted in 1970. It had 40-odd SeaKing choppers in its air wing, but the strength has come down to about 30 helicopters due to mishaps.

The MRH's primary role would be anti-submarine warfare and anti-surface warfare, while its secondary role would include search and rescue, cargo carrying and casualty evacuation.

The RFP for the 16 MRH was initially issued in early 2006, but the tenders were cancelled two years later and reissued in September 2008.

As per the tender, the winning bidder would be required to supply the first MRH within 46 months in three phases.

The Navy will also have the option of placing orders for another 44 helicopters, once the present contract is completed.

The contract also mandates fulfillment of the offset obligations by the winning bidder, which requires it to

reinvest 30 per cent of the contract amount back into the Indian defence industry.




India rejects US offer, to go for open bidding for Navy deal - Indian Express

 

[Zebra]

AW 101 merlin and Sikorsky CH 148 Cyclone were in the competition but were rejected because they would not fit Godavari class frigates which was a requirement in RFP...

is MH 60 and S70 B different...?? if yes then D u got your 5 helis in the fray....!!

Thank you Neil ,
btw what about Eurocopter EC725 , any news ?

- EC725, NH90 S-70B and MH-60R in frame as Indian navy starts hunt for anti-submarine warfare helicopt

 

[Neil]

Thank you Neil ,
btw what about Eurocopter EC725 , any news ?

- EC725, NH90 S-70B and MH-60R in frame as Indian navy starts hunt for anti-submarine warfare helicopt

no idea about it D...guess it is also big to fit on godavari class...

 

[Kunal Biswas]

 

[Galaxy]

Indian navy looking to purchase more then 75 Naval helicopters

Indian navy looking to purchase more then 75 Naval helicopters


November 28, 2011


India is all set to formally launch the hunt for over 75 heavy-duty "stealthy" naval helicopters with potent anti-submarine and anti-warship warfare capabilities, as also customized for amphibious assaults and commando operations against conventional, terror, piracy and other threats.

The Defence Acquisitions Council, chaired by defence minister A K Antony, on Friday discussed the mega naval multi-role helicopter (NMRH) project, which is likely to cost well over $2 billion.

"The global tender for NMRH will be issued soon. The project is likely to get even bigger at a later stage, with more such helicopters being ordered after the first 75. An initial lot will be obtained off-the-shelf from abroad, while the rest will be manufactured in India with the foreign collaborator's help," an MoD source said.

The NMRH acquisition will be in addition to the ongoing Rs 2,000 crore procurement of 16 multi-role helicopters, wherein the field trial evaluation report of European NH-90 and American Sikorsky-70B is now being examined by MoD to select the final winner.

Navy is also going in for new carrier-borne fighter jets, maritime patrol aircraft and drones, which together will cost around Rs 85,000 crore. These include 45 Russian MiG-29Ks for $2 billion and 12 American P-8I long-range reconnaissance aircraft for over $3 billion.

With China looming large on the radar screen, India wants to build a powerful three-dimensional Navy to protect its geostrategic interests stretching from Hormuz Strait to Malacca Strait. As part of the over Rs 300,000 crore long-term naval plans, 48 warships are already on order, as first reported by TOI.

"The NMRH, weighing 9-12.5 tonne each, will operate from the flight decks of frigates, destroyers and aircraft carriers. Five global aviation majors indicated their interest to our initial queries," said a source.

The new helicopters, with an operational life of over 30 years, will replace the older Sea King helicopters and meet requirements of the expanding Navy. Their "primary roles" will include anti-submarine and anti-surface warfare, special and commando operations, and amphibious assault and troop carriage.

The "secondary roles", in turn, will include electronic intelligence and anti-piracy, search and rescue, casualty evacuation and external cargo carrying. Navy wants the helicopters to be equipped with advanced avionics and weapons suites – including state-of-the-art-radars, light-weight torpedoes, depth charges, 70mm rockets and 20mm guns — to "detect, identify, classify and destroy" aerial, surface and sub-surface threats.

Incidentally, the Indian armed forces are planning the induction of over 900 helicopters over the next 15 years. They include 384 light-utility and observation, 139 medium-lift, 114 light combat, 22 heavy-duty attack, 15 heavy-lift, 12 VVIP, five maritime early-warning and, of course, 186 Dhruv advanced light helicopters.

Indian navy looking to purchase more then 75 Naval helicopters | idrw.org

 

[Ray]

The Navy requires a shot in the arm since the seas are getting to restive for security comfort!

 

[agentperry]

its a big big deal. but where are they going to field them? new bases or they are for replacement only

 

[Neil]

its a big big deal. but where are they going to field them? new bases or they are for replacement only

replacement of are ageing sea king...and will mostly fielded on vessels for anti sub and detection role being their primary role....

 

[Galaxy]

The helicopter is a IN Navy MRH contender. MRH90 officially added to Australia's Projects of Concern list.

MRH90 officially added to Australia's Projects of Concern list

 

[debasree]

woh i am very happy to hear hope the proposal get lost under red tape

 

[Galaxy]

===================

 

[bhramos]

Navy: Europe firm 'twisting' facts for $1bn deal

A big controversy has hit the acquisition of 16 Multi-Role Helicopters for the Indian Navy, a deal estimated to be worth around $1 billion, with the Indian Navy accusing European vendor NH Industries (NHI) of trying to "mislead" the defence ministry, "twist" the Naval Staff Qualitative Requirements (NSQRs), "falsify" the Request for Proposal (RFP) and cause delays with "unreasonable que-ries/concerns".
Docu-ments accessed by this newspaper show the Navy criticised the European firm after it raised doubts about the helicopter of its American rival Sikorsky. This new US-European battle for an Indian defence deal is leading to a lot of acrimony.
NHI earlier alleged Sikorsky does not meet the NSQRs for the deal, and complained to the defence ministry. The Navy has now made it clear that both NHI and Sikorsky have met the NSQRs, making them both eligible. The Navy earlier submitted its Field Evaluation Trials (FETs) report to the MoD on acquiring the anti-surface and anti-submarine MRHs. NHI, based in France and with French, German and Italian participation, pitched its NH90 helicopter against Sikorsky's S70B.
NHI earlier raised doubts about the Sikorsky helicopter on various aspects, including dual redundancy, fitment of fuel tanks, full authority automatic flight control system, fuel reserves at the end of mission, sensor functions and usage monitoring system. The Navy has, however, given the Sikorsky helicopter a clean chit.
In its final recommendations and in response to NHI's allegations, the Navy said: "It emerges that NHI is attempting to mislead the higher authorities and cause delays... with unreasonable queries/concerns. The Indian Navy has evaluated the (NHI) NH90 and (Sikorsky) S70B helicopters, and considers both platforms meet the NSQRs specified in... the RFP."
On NHI's queries on the Sikorsky helicopter's "sensor functions" and "fitment of both external and internal fuel tanks", the Navy said: "It is clearly evident that NHI have twisted the NSQR, thereby falsifying the Request for Proposal on the MRH with an aim to misleading the higher authorities MoD".
NHI had raised doubts on several other features. It said: "(The NSQR) requires no failure of single system should lead to a catastrophic failure. NHI would like to understand how this is demonstrated since the S70B does not have dual redundancy built in to all aircraft flight control systems."

Navy: Europe firm 'twisting' facts for $1bn deal | The Asian Age

 

[Armand2REP]

How does NH Industries queries do anything to anybody? They aren't the one's running the programme.