I didn't know that, thanks for the heads up. Can you give me a one line update on which engine will be used in which chopper and how many of them we are buying? Shakti derivatives will be used for Dhruv and LCA and the HTSE 1200 will be used for a newer model of some chopper? Do we have an Apache like heavy attack chopper in the pipeline?
I believe HTSE would be used for future IMRH and HAL's future Naval Copter.
It needs different kind of Turbine
India currently needs to get its own amphibious warfare helicopter.I believe HTSE would be used for future IMRH and HAL's future Naval Copter.
Shakti derivatives will never be used for LCA
We are buying Apache. But I think once we have our own engine. You will see Apache Kind of Helicopters
Dont think so. LCH is not designed for that role. I think by Amphibious you mean which can land on water like Sea King and Mil Mi 14 helicopter? If HAL ever undertake such exercise, it would be with some future variant of heavy lift copter
HAL does not have any other chopper in the pipeline other than the LCH and LUH. In the future we might see some improvements of the Dhruv (Mk.5 and so on), and possible naval versions of LUH as well as LCH.
Thanks. One more question. Once we get the ToT for any weapons system to manufacture it under licence, say the Shakti engine, how does the foreign vendor keep tabs on how many units we are manufacturing. Apparently we even manufacture some pistol from WW2 under licence, till date. How does the vendor know that we haven't set up another factory elsewhere and bulk producing these weapons to dodge licence fees?
Don't worry about the Dhruv, it is a success story and here to stay. Over 200 units are already in service, another 30 enter service every year and the services are still making further orders- the ALH's production doesn't look like it will be ceasing anytime soon. Despite it's "light" tag, it is more a medium class helo (on the lower end of the class) with 2 engines and the ability to carry 14-15 passengers.
Hmm, I'm not so sure. The navy intentionally remained out of the LUH program and the LUH was built to IA and IAF specs not the IN's with the biggest restricton to naval service being it is single engined.
The LUH is not te ALH's replcement in any shape or form. The LUH is a lighter (and single engined) derivative of the ALH, it will compliment the ALH- not replace it.
10-15 years? I don't think so. There's NOTHING wrong with the ALHs, they are doing a fine job in the IA and IAF, gradual upgrades to the engines and avionics (as HAL is doing) will keep these beasts around for a lot longer than that.
I think the LUH will have a huge market inside India outside of the armed forces. The CAPFs are surely going to be interested in it and many state police forces also.
Will happen in the next 4 months, EGRs just recently took place.
Yaar, phir tb toh DRDO ki dash
They promised both LUH and LCA SP2 in February and March of last year. Now, they are saying by end of this year.
Seriously,
Our Navy is lucky who actually started build up with private Cos.
Army is also wise moving towards them.
Wish IAF also realizes it soon.
I don't think so
Well, doing such would be against the law in the first place. And will be dealt with accordingly.
That's correct...but there is a scope for LUH-like helos in Coast Guard as well. Although it's likely ICG would choose to go with additional numbers of whatever IN buys.
Agreed again. It is a strict "may be"...didn't want to leave out any possibilities so I included it. Yes I did have the Naval Infantry forces in mind...but even then it's likely they could even go with the heavier Apache AH-64Es when they come to that point. No guarantee they'll buy N-LCH even then.
No...for civil-type operators, purchase cost + operating cost is the most important factor and they will obviously prefer a lighter single-engine helo like LUH over a twin-engine one like Dhruv.
