IAF to procure 12 choppers for Siachen operations

[Zebra]

STAFF WRITER 9:32 HRS IST

New Delhi, Oct 14 (PTI) Troops stationed at the Siachen Glacier can look forward to better resource mobilisation as the Indian Air Force is procuring 12 new light helicopters for deployment there.

A request for proposal (RFP) has been sent by the IAF to defence aerospace PSU HAL for buying 12 Cheetal helicopters which will be used for carrying out operations in high altitude areas in the northern borders, IAF officials told PTI here.

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[Ray]

Cheetal helicopters?

I wonder what that could be!

 

[acetophenol]

Cheetal helicopters?

I wonder what that could be!

Modern in house built varients of Cheetah helis with full glass cockpits,improved performance-fuel efficient,better load etc

 

[Defcon 1]

Why can't they use Dhruv there? Dhruv can operate at such high altitudes and it has better load carrying capacity than cheetal.

 

[Ray]

I presume it must be because of the differential in service ceiling.

And in high altitude weight also make control difficult unless there is commensurate power.

Maybe someone who is better qualified on aeronautic engineering could throw some light!

 

[agentperry]

Why can't they use Dhruv there? Dhruv can operate at such high altitudes and it has better load carrying capacity than cheetal.

cost and requirement forbids dhruv( a bigger helicopter) being considered for this duty. cheetal is smaller and thus more agile and cheap. both are domestically produced so cheetal have an edge

 

[sob]

Due to the altitude Helicopters cannot operate in the thin air with full load. With increase in altitude the load carrying capacity of the helicopter reduces dramatically.

The empty weight of the two helicopters will give an Idea

Dhruv : 2.5 Tons

Cheetah : 0.9 Tons