Helicopters used by India!!! A Discussion

SPIEZ

Senior Member
Joined
Sep 24, 2011
Messages
3,508
Likes
1,021
Country flag
EUROCOPTER WRITES TO ARMY CHIEF


New Delhi: Expressing "concern" over delays in finalising the deal for procuring 197 light helicopters for the defence forces, European defence major Eurocopter has written a letter to Army chief Gen VK Singh in that regard.

The European Eurocopter AS 350 Fennec is competing with Russian Kamov 226 'Sergei' for supplying these choppers to the Indian Army and Air Force in a project expected to be worth over $1.5 billion.

The choppers will be used by the Army and the IAF to replace their aging fleet of vintage Cheetah and Chetak helicopters, which are critical for providing supplies to troops deployed in Siachen Glacier and other high altitude areas.
Eurocopter writes to Army Chief over delays in chopper deal

"We take this opportunity to express our concern regarding the time frame for the very important programme, for which the RFP was issued in July 2008. "The technical evaluation process has now taken over 38 months and has not yet been concluded due to reasons which are unknown to us," Eurocopter told the Army Chief in the letter.

The previous attempt of the armed forces to find a replacement of these choppers could not be successful in 2007 after the Defence Ministry withdrew the tender which Eurocopter had won.

"We hope that this program after so many years will soon be successfully concluded and we would be proud to contribute to the self-reliance of Indian armed forces," it added.

The trials of two helicopters in the race were completed in December 2010 and the Army Aviation Corps (AAC) submitted the trial reports to the Defence Ministry after that. The report was accepted by the ministry in October last year and was approved by the Technical Oversight Committee (TOC) for the project only last month.

Eurocopter writes to Army Chief over delays in chopper deal - India News - IBNLive
 

lambu

Regular Member
Joined
Jul 15, 2010
Messages
313
Likes
77






Russia Flies High As IAF Plans 71 Additional Mi-17 Choppers and Ka-226 T Overshadows Eurocopter's 550 C3 for Army


After having recently inducted the first Mi-17 V5 chopper into the fleet, the Indian Air Force (IAF) has announced that it is planning to procure 71 more Mi-17 V5 helicopters. Out of these 71 choppers, 59 would be provided to the IAF for replacing its old Mi-8 and Mi-17IV choppers and six would go to the Border Security Force. The current plan to acquire these Mi-17 choppers is in addition to the 80 already ordered from Russia.



India has expressed its interest to procure more Mi-17 choppers just a week after IAF had officially inducted the Mi-17 V5 medium helicopter into service which will add to the fleet's operational capability. The first batch from the 80 Mi-17V-5 tactical transport helicopters belongs to the $1.3 billion deal from 2008.Under this deal, India has already taken delivery of about 20 Russian helicopters, built by the Kazan Helicopter Plant and the remaining helicopters are to be delivered in 2014.The Mi-17V-5, a utility helicopter, can carry up to 36 passengers or four tons or cargo.



Meanwhile, Russian helicopters seem to be emerging as the choice for the Indian Army as well. It seems that Russian chopper Ka-226 T may have an edge over Eurocopter's AS 550 C3 Fennec in the race for Indian Army's 197 helicopters tender. In fact, the continued delay in the announcement has also made Eurocopter anxious. A letter has also been sent by Eurocopter to the Indian Army Chief of Staff complaining of delay in announcing a winner in the Indian Army 197 helicopter.



As for the ongoing tender for 197 helicopters for the army, Eurocopter may meet the same fate as in the MMRCA deal where it lost out to French firm Dassault earlier this year. In the current helicopter tender, the Russian Ka-226T helicopter by Rosoboronexport is supposedly a better choice for the army since it meets most of the requirements of the tender, said sources.



Rrosoboronexport from Russia claims that the Ka-226T fared well during the evaluation trials. It highlighted the Russian choppers versatile abilities as well as its easy piloting technique, high reliability and flight safety. Russia is also confident that the high level of survivability of the Ka-226T chopper is a result of two Turbomeca Arrius 2G1 engines. Despite damage to one engine, the helicopter can continue its flight on a solo one. The Ka-226T has a twin rotor system which increases its climb rate and hover ceiling. According to media reports, the twin-engine, twin-rotor system of the Russian chopper has a distinct edge over the Eurocopter AS 550 C3 Fennec's single engine, single rotor system.

Russia Flies High As IAF Plans 71 Additional Mi-17 Choppers and Ka-226 T Overshadows Eurocopter's 550 C3 for Army - Defence Now















Features





News





Events





Interviews





RFI





Resources















Russia Flies High As IAF Plans 71 Additional Mi-17 Choppers and Ka-226 T Overshadows Eurocopter's 550 C3 for Army
 

Kunal Biswas

Member of the Year 2011
Ambassador
Joined
May 26, 2010
Messages
31,122
Likes
41,042
KA226 is heaver than Dhruv, Dhruv twin engine produce more power than KA226..

As far as technical concerns Fennec have the edge..
 

ace009

Freakin' Fighter fan
Senior Member
Joined
Sep 15, 2010
Messages
1,662
Likes
526
Ahhh - between the Russians and the French - hard to say. Both are good at this, although the French deal more in "cash" whereas the Russians deal more in "kind" (preferably the womenkind).

:D

:D
 

lambu

Regular Member
Joined
Jul 15, 2010
Messages
313
Likes
77
Mi-17 choppers to start ops from mid-March


Two Mi-17 helicopters of the Indian Air Force (IAF), which have been provided by the Centre to Jharkhand for anti-Naxalite operations, will finally become operational from mid-March.Police sources said despite approval from the Centre for use of the two Mi-17 choppers in the anti-Naxalite operation, the helicopters could not be used for almost three months because of non-clearance from the airport authority and air traffic controller. The Centre had approved the use in November.

The state is not using helicopter in anti-Maoist operations after a chopper of the Border Security Force (BSF) crashed on the Ranchi-Khunti border of October 19. The Central Reserve Police Force, which was using Dhruv helicopters of the BSF in Jharkhand, Maharashtra and Chhattishgarh, had grounded all the choppers on the directive from Delhi on October 20. All the three crew members – pilot, co-pilot and the technician – were killed in the crash.

"The matter was resolved after a senior defence officer visited Jharkhand and sorted out the matter with airport officials and air traffic controller," said an official adding that once the choppers become operational, the security forces would be able to carry out operations in remote areas more effectively. The choppers will enable quick and safe movement of around 15-20 security personnel at once.

Recently, Union home minister P Chidambram had asked the chief secretaries and the police chiefs of all Naxalite-hit states to launch aggressive operations by dividing the state into small pockets. He had also asked to increase intelligence network.

Director general of police G S Rath, however, declined to share much details on the visit of the senior defence officer. "I did not meet him. He was here to discuss the logistics of the use of choppers," said Rath.

Mi-17 choppers to start ops from mid-March | idrw.org
 

lambu

Regular Member
Joined
Jul 15, 2010
Messages
313
Likes
77

US Based Sikorsky Offers Military Choppers To India


US-based Sikorsky, among the world's leading helicopter manufacturers, has offered to make military choppers in India.

Sikorsky's Executive Vice President for India and South Asia, Air Vice Marshal Arvind Jeet Singh Walia (retd), said that at present the offer was to make a naval variant of the famous Black Hawk, designated MH-70B Sea Hawk, if the Indian Navy opts to buy this aircraft.

The Indian Navy should have a requirement for more than 100 helicopters of this type, and if the Sea Hawk is chosen, there would be appreciable Transfer of Technology and manufacturing capability to India, subject of course to an agreement between the Indian and US Governments.

If selected, the MH-70B could be co-produced in India under what is called the Buy-and-Make category of the defence ministry's Defence Procurement Procedure (DPP), he said. At present, the navy has an RfP (Request for Proposals or tender) for 16 helicopters with an option for eight more twin-engine, 12.5 tonne category helicopters. But there are indications for nearly a 100 more, Walia said, adding: "The technical and financial evaluation process is on and a decision is due any time."

Pitted against the Sikorsky is a European consortium's NH-90, partnered by Italy's AgustaWestland (32 percent), European EADS Eurocopter (62.5 percent) and Dutch Stork Fokker (5.5 percent).Notably, US companies cannot offer advanced and critical technologies to foreign countries but occasionally, the US state and defense departments give them nods to offer their systems on the understanding that in case of possible deals, their cases would be considered favorably and approvals accorded.

Significantly, several top Sikorsky executives have visited India in recent weeks, offering both civil and military aircraft.Stephen B. Estill, vice president (Strategic Partnerships) for Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation (SAC), and Mick Maurer, president, Sikorsky Military Systems, were in India in February to meet Ratan Tata to seek collaborations in this regard with the Tata group.

Estill said that Sikorsky and Tatas were in discussions for military helicopters, and that a joint company would be set up as and when feasible. The two groups already have a joint venture for civil helicopter production since 2010, and have started making cabins for the Sikorsky S-92 helicopters in India for civil and VIP versions. Seven cabins had been supplied since the venture started two years ago from a facility in Hyderabad.

"And the first machine with the Made-in-India cabin is just about to be given to a customer somewhere in the world," Estill said.Gradually, the production would go up to three cabins a month, or 36 a year, by 2013 from the Indian facility, and the machines would be supplied globally from Asia to the Americas.

Walia said that although India itself had no order yet for the S-92, the Indian facility was playing a significant role in Sikorsky's global supply chain. This success could be replicated for military aircraft, but in this case, if there were orders from the Indian Navy to make the project viable in terms of investment and transfer of technology.

Walia said that the Sea Hawks can be used in several roles from anti submarine warfare (ASW) to anti-surface warfare (ASUW), light heliborne operations, search and rescue (SAR) missions and all-weather surveillance. The helicopter can be equipped with weapons and combat systems as required, and can go reasonably far away from its mother ship.

Notably, the Black Hawk has several multi-role variants for the US rmy, marines, navy and special forces. Hundereds of these helicopters have been supplied worldwide to various countries.

Defence News - US Based Sikorsky Offers Military Choppers To India
 

Global Defence

New threads

Articles

Top