Indian Army Kamov 226 T helicopter

WolfPack86

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NO FORMAL DECISION YET ON CANCELLATION OF FIGHTER, HELICOPTER DEALS WITH RUSSIA
There is no formal decision yet on cancellation of deals with Russia for additional MiG-29 and Su-30 fighter jets and Ka-226T utility helicopters, according to defence sources.

Last week, a senior U.S. official told the Senate Foreign Relations Committee that what was seen in the “last few weeks” was the “cancellation of MiG-29 orders, Russian helicopter orders and anti-tank weapon orders” while also indicating that India could face difficulties in its defence exports because of the sweeping sanctions on Russia.

A couple of months back, the Defence Ministry has undertaken a review of all “Buy Global” deals which are direct purchases, as part of the push for indigenisation. As part of this, several deals including multi-role helicopters for Coast Guard, Ka-226T helicopters and shoulder–fired missiles were expected to be cancelled.

All deals are being looked at as part of the review to further boost ‘Make in India’ and there is a reconsideration on the Ka-226T deal due to cost and focus on indigenisation, a defence official said.

“A formal decision on cancellation has not been taken yet,” a defence official said on the Ka-226T deal.

Last Wednesday, U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs Donald Lu told the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, “I think it’s going to be very hard for any country on the globe to buy major weapon systems from India because of the sweeping sanctions now placed on Russian banks. What we’ve seen from India in just the last few weeks is the cancellation of MiG 29 orders, Russian helicopter orders and anti-tank weapon orders.”

Further on the possible waiver for India from sanctions under CAATSA (Countering America’s Adversaries Through Sanctions Act) over the S-400 deal, Mr. Lu said the Biden administration will make a determination.

“I can assure you that the administration will follow the CAATSA (Countering America’s Adversaries Through Sanctions Act) law and fully implement that law and will consult with the Congress as we move forward with any of... [inaudible].”

Technically all deals are on the table for review and the Ka-226T has been stuck for a long time over indigenous content in the helicopters to be manufactured locally. With indigenous Light Utility Helicopter (LUH) developed by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) now ready, there is a rethink on the deal, another official said.

Critical Necessity For Utility Helicopters

The Army has conveyed its critical necessity for utility helicopters with the ageing Cheetah and Chetak helicopters needing urgent replacement and has pushed for some Ka-226T helicopters to be brought off the shelf. The final decision on the Ka-226T deal is awaited, the official cited earlier said.

In 2015, India and Russia had concluded an Inter-Governmental Agreement (IGA) for at least 200 Ka-226T twin engine utility helicopters of which 60 would be directly imported and remaining 140 manufactured locally.

Additional MiG-29s And Su-30s

In July 2020, the Defence Acquisition Council had approved procurement of 21 MiG-29 fighter jets for the Indian Air Force (IAF) along with the upgradation of 59 existing MiG-29 jets estimated to cost ₹7,418 crore and 12 Su-30 MKI aircraft at an estimated ₹10,730 crore to be manufactured by the Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL).

However, discussions have since been delayed over the high cost quoted by the Russian side and officials said they have now ironed out all differences and reached an understanding. The deal is now awaiting final approval from the Defence Ministry, a senior official said.

“There is really no alternative for these aircraft, which are only to augment the existing fleets and important as the IAF is facing a steep fall in its fighter strength. The deal is now ready to be signed,” the official said. If it is delayed or deferred now, the whole process will have to restart again and could see cost escalations as well, the official said.

The IAF has conveyed this to the Defence Ministry and a formal decision is awaited, it has been learnt. India has contracted 272 SU-30s from Russia and the 12 additional Su-30MKIs being negotiated are meant to replace the Sukhois lost in crashes over the years.

Officials are also assessing the impact the sanctions on the Russian firms may have on India’s defence exports. In January, India signed the first export order with the Philippines, a $374.96–million deal for the BrahMos supersonic cruise missiles which is a joint product of India and Russia. It is not clear as yet if that would be impacted in anyway.
 

WolfPack86

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Strains on India-Russia Defence Cooperation


As the war in Ukraine stretches over four months with no end in sight, it has given rise to apprehensions on Russia’s ability to adhere to timely deliveries of spares and hardware to India.

History of the bilateral defence ties
  • India was reliant, almost solely on the British, and other Western nations for its arms imports immediately after Independence.
  • However, this dependence weaned, and by the 1970s India was importing several weapons systems from then USSR, making it the country’s largest defence importer for decades.
A major chunk of India’s strategic arms
  • Russia has provided some of the most sensitive and important weapons platforms that India has required from time to time including nuclear submarines, aircraft carriers, tanks, guns, fighter jets, and missiles.
  • According to one estimate, the share of Russian-origin weapons and platforms across Indian armed forces is as high as 85%.
  • Russia is the second-largest arms exporter in the world, following only the United States.

  • For Russia, India is the largest importer, and for India, Russia is the largest exporter when it comes to arms transfer.
What saw the decline?
  • Between 2000 and 2020, Russia accounted for 66.5% of India’s arms imports.
  • Russia’s share in Indian arms imports was down to about 50% between 2016 and 2020, but it still remained the largest single importer.
Present status of defence cooperation
  • When the war began, Indian armed forces had stocks of spares and supplies for eight to ten months and the expectation was that the war would end quickly.
  • However, as it stretches on with no clear endgame, there are apprehensions on Russia’s ability to adhere to the timelines for both spares as well as new deliveries.
  • Armed forces are looking at certain alternative mitigation measures and identifying alternate sources from friendly foreign countries.
  • However, in the long term, this is also an opportunity for the private industry to step up production and meet the requirements.

Impact of the war
  • While some timeline lapses and shipping delays were possible, there would not be any dent on the Army’s operational preparedness along the borders.
  • In addition, the armed forces have also made significant emergency procurements since the standoff in Eastern Ladakh and have stocked up on spares and ammunition.
  • However, Russia has assured India that it would adhere to delivery timelines.
  • Since the war sees no end, Russian industry would be caught up in replenishing the inventories of their own armed forces.
What is the status of deals underway/new deals pending with Russia?
  • The defence trade between India and Russia has crossed $15 billion since 2018, in the backdrop of some big deals including the $5.43 billion S-400 long range air defence systems.
  • Other major contracts currently under implementation are construction of four additional stealth frigates in Russia and India,
  • There is a licensed production of the Mango Armor-piercing fin-stabilised discarding sabot (APFSDS) rounds for the T-90S tanks as also additional T-90S tanks, AK-203 assault rifles among others.
Deferred deals in downtime
  • There are several big deals deferred by the Defence Ministry as part of the review of all direct import deals.
  • This is in conjunction with efforts to push the ‘Make in India’ scheme in defence.
  • Russian deals have also been deferred including the one for 21 MiG-29 fighter jets for the Indian Air Force (IAF) along with the upgradation of 59 existing Mig-29 jets.
  • This also includes the deferment of the manufacture of 12 SU-30 MKI aircraft by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL).
What is the status of payments?
  • While India continues to remain Russia’s largest arms buyer with a major chunk of legacy hardware from Russia and the Soviet Union, the volume of imports has reduced in the last decade.
  • With Russia being shut out of the global SWIFT system for money transfers, India and Russia have agreed to conduct payments through the Rupee-Rouble arrangement.
  • With several big ticket deals including the S-400 under implementation, there are large volume of payments to be made.
 

WolfPack86

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RUSSIA WILL DELIVER IGLA-S AIR DEFENCE SYSTEMS, ADDITIONAL MIG-29UPG JETS AND KA-31 HELICOPTERS TO INDIA
Moscow:
Russia and India are implementing joint military-technical cooperation projects in the deliveries of Igla-S man-portable air defence systems and MiG-29UPG fighter aircraft, head of Russia’s Federal Service for Military-Technical Cooperation Dmitry Shugayev told TASS at the Army 2022 international arms show on Wednesday.


"The following projects of bilateral cooperation are at various stages of their approval: arranging the production of Ka-226T helicopters in India, delivering and setting up the licensed production of Igla-S man-portable air defence systems, delivering additional sets for the manufacture of Su-30MKI aircraft, delivering additional MiG-29UPG planes and delivering additional Ka-31 helicopters," the defence cooperation chief said.

The Army 2022 international military-technical forum organized by Russia’s Defence Ministry runs on August 15-21 on the premises of the Patriot Park near Moscow, at the Alabino practice range and the Kubinka airfield, and also in all of Russia’s Military Districts and in the Northern Fleet, in more than 30 Russian regions.
 

WolfPack86

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ARMED FORCES PUSH TO FAST-TRACK RUSSIAN KA-226T HELICOPTERS
NEW DELHI:
With replacements for old Cheetah and Chetak helicopters still stuck in red-tape amid the continuing military confrontation with China, the armed forces are planning to approach the government to procure “a minimum inescapable quantity” of the already-selected Russian Kamov-226T choppers in a flyaway condition reports TOI.

Many of local Indian vendors are expected to become the suppliers as the Russian-Indian joint venture has signed MoUs with a number of companies.

In Jan 2020 India and Russia had agreed to resolve issues around the production of Ka-226T and fast track it. Fast-tracking for the production of Ka 226T was discussed during Indian defence minister visit to Moscow then.

Sources said, "The parties have resolved and will make all efforts to fast-track the launching of these projects".

KA-226T helicopter project announced in 2014 is expected to replace Indian army's light utility helicopters Cheetah and Chetek. The main aim of the project is on "Make in India" production of KA-226T helicopters with Indian companies expected to take large scale part in the project. Many of local Indian vendors are expected to become the suppliers as the Russian-Indian joint venture has signed MoUs with a number of companies.

Sources said, “India will be able to receive some crucial helicopter technologies" with "integration of various helicopter systems being possible"

While the intergovernmental agreements were signed are a long time ago, a formal contract is still not signed and the actual project's launch is still pending.

KA-226T will be produced at a factory in Bangalore. The maximum speed of KA-226T is 220km/h and can carry a weight of 3600kg with a payload of 785 kg.

Defence sources say the need to replace obsolete single-engine Cheetahs and Chetaks of the vintage of 1960s-1970s, which are dogged by a high crash rate and major serviceability problems, has become an “existential operational necessity” now.

The Army, IAF and Navy have been demanding new LUHs for almost 20 years now, with their total requirement being 498 choppers. After the proposed procurement of 197 such choppers from abroad was scrapped twice, India had inked an inter-governmental agreement with Russia to acquire 200 twin-engine Kamov-226T choppers for Army (135) and IAF (65) in 2015.

The first 60 were to come in a fly-away condition, with the other 140 to be manufactured by a joint venture between Hindustan Aeronautics (HAL) and ROSTEC Corp/Russian Helicopters the report further added.
 

WolfPack86

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Additional MiG 29 deal is still on cards | Ka226 Deal is still on
 

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Russia Hopes to Revive Ka-226T Project with India at Aero India 2023
Russia’s Rosoboronexport said it hopes to revive the project to jointly produce Ka-226T light utility helicopters with India at the upcoming Aero India 2023.

In an official release today, Rosoboronexport said it will present the Ka-226T. “The production of which is suggested to be launched under the Make-in-India program on the premises of Indo-Russian Helicopters Limited, a joint venture with the participation of Russian and Indian industrial companies.”

In December 2021, Russia said it made the most favorable offer to build Ka-226Ts in India.

In 2015, India and Russian governments signed up to manufacture for 200 Ka-226T helicopters at Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL)’s plant at Tumkur, Karnataka, is estimated to cost over $1 billion. The Kamov-226T is meant to replace the Cheetah and Chetak fleets of the Indian Army and the Air Force. Of the 200 helicopters, 60 are meant to be manufactured at the Russian Helicopters (RH) plant in Ulan Ude. RH announced at the end of 2020 that manufacturing had commenced for the first few helicopter airframes for the Indian order.

The Indian media have reported citing senior government officials that the contract is likely to be shelved. The two sides could reportedly not yet narrow differences on cost and extent of indigenous content.
 

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Ka-226T Project with Russia Still On, No Conflict of Interest with LUH: HAL Official
Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) said India can accommodate both Ka-226T helicopter project and the indigenous Light Utility Helicopter (LUH) since the two aircraft perform different functions.

HAL CMD C.B.Ananthakrishnan said during a press conference Tuesday “there was no conflict of interest” with the Kamov helicopter and the LUH.

“If the programme comes through, we are ready to start work,” he said.

In a recent interview to Russian state media, Vladimir Drozhzhov, deputy head of Russia’s Federal Service for Military-Technical Cooperation (FSVTS), stated that negotiations with India on the production of Ka-226Ts have stalled since the targeted level of localisation of joint production has yet to be met.

The Indian Air Force requires Ka-226Ts to replace its inventory of outdated Cheetah and Chetak helicopters.

The Ka-226T could offer an advantage over the Chetak/Cheetah and the LUH in terms of survivability in hazardous terrain due to its dual-engine design and co-axial propeller.

Separately, D.K. Sunil, Director (Engineering and R&D) of HAL, told Defense Mirror that the Ka-226T helicopters will be produced at HAL facilities if the project moves ahead. He said the contract “has not been called off.”
 

Corvus Splendens

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1676460490609.png

Makes LUH as light as possible as per requirements, only 90hp down from Ka-226 but 600-700kg lighter, the same load carrying capacity at around 1 ton. Goes through trial hell and passes.

Ree LUH not ideal, need Kamov, vroo twin rotors, twin engines.
So let's add twin rotors and twin engines to LUH ?
Reee noooo too heavy not ideal.
 

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Ka-226T Project with Russia Still On, No Conflict of Interest with LUH: HAL Official
Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) said India can accommodate both Ka-226T helicopter project and the indigenous Light Utility Helicopter (LUH) since the two aircraft perform different functions.

HAL CMD C.B.Ananthakrishnan said during a press conference Tuesday “there was no conflict of interest” with the Kamov helicopter and the LUH.

“If the programme comes through, we are ready to start work,” he said.

In a recent interview to Russian state media, Vladimir Drozhzhov, deputy head of Russia’s Federal Service for Military-Technical Cooperation (FSVTS), stated that negotiations with India on the production of Ka-226Ts have stalled since the targeted level of localisation of joint production has yet to be met.

The Indian Air Force requires Ka-226Ts to replace its inventory of outdated Cheetah and Chetak helicopters.

The Ka-226T could offer an advantage over the Chetak/Cheetah and the LUH in terms of survivability in hazardous terrain due to its dual-engine design and co-axial propeller.

Separately, D.K. Sunil, Director (Engineering and R&D) of HAL, told Defense Mirror that the Ka-226T helicopters will be produced at HAL facilities if the project moves ahead. He said the contract “has not been called off.”
:facepalm: :facepalm: :facepalm: :facepalm:
 

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