Indian Army Kamov 226 T helicopter

Flying Dagger

Senior Member
Joined
Sep 26, 2019
Messages
3,583
Likes
9,441
Country flag
I dont agree at all. we have dhruv if we need to carry something heavy while luh is the perfect replacement for cheetah and chetak.

Kamov is not needed anywhere. Kitne type ke lene hai bhai.

Faishon show thodi Na chal raha ki sab type ke helicopter le lo. There is absolutely no need for kamov.
And operational Cost gayi tel lene?

Kamov will expose us to newer design and tech and we will be able to bring it in our later designs. Infact we should have gone for Kamov 5-10 years back.

Kamov 226T is a good decision
 

WolfPack86

Senior Member
Joined
Oct 20, 2015
Messages
10,498
Likes
16,938
Country flag
India, Russia conclude price talks for 200 Kamov copters
More than four years after India and Russia signed an inter-governmental pact allowing Russia to supply 200 Kamov Ka-226T helicopters, the price negotiations have been concluded. A formal contract may be signed in the next few months.

The price for the 200 copters would be around $4 billion (Rs 28,000 crore approximately), sources said. This would also include transfer of 50% technology, including structure of the copter, its blades and landing gear, all important for metallurgy and transfer of technology.

The Kamov 226T uses an engine made by French major Safran. India’s Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) and Safran already have an existing joint venture to produce engines for the advanced light helicopter made by the HAL. A facility


to manufacture KA-226T helicopters in India has been created at HAL’s newly set up plant at Tumkuru, near Bengaluru. A new created entity called Indo Russian Helicopter Pvt. Ltd. (IRHL) will produce these copters. Once the domestic demand is met, India and Russia also intend to export Kamov-226Ts to other countries.

The Kamov is a replacement for the obsolete Cheetah and Chetak fleets of the Indian armed forces. The three services need 495 light-utility helicopters (LUH) to replace Cheetah/Chetak fleet of helicopters. The Army requires 259, IAF 125 and Navy around 111 such helicopters equipped with anti-submarine warfare (ASW) capabilities.

Cheetah/Chetak helicopters are based on the 1950s’ designed Alouette Aérospatiale 315B Lama of France.

While the Naval tender is separate from this contract, the demand for some 384 light copters will be met by the Kamov and the ALH. The HAL is producing 24-26 helicopters per year and the Ministry of Defence wants it to produce at least 80 per annum.

India and Russia concluded an inter-governmental agreement (IGA) for 200 helicopters in October 2015. As per the original tender, 60 helicopters will be imported from Russia and the rest will be built in India. A joint venture (JV) has already been set up between HAL and Russia’s Rostec – JSC Rosoboronexport and Russian Helicopters.
https://www.defencenews.in/article/India,-Russia-conclude-price-talks-for-200-Kamov-copters-808938
 

WolfPack86

Senior Member
Joined
Oct 20, 2015
Messages
10,498
Likes
16,938
Country flag
First batch of Kamov choppers to be rolled out from Tumkur by 2025: Report
The first batch of Kamov military helicopters, to be manufactured in India under an Indo-Russia joint venture, is expected to be rolled out by 2025, a top official overseeing the project said on Thursday.

In October 2016, India and Russia finalised a broad agreement for the joint venture between Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL) and two Russian defence majors for production of the helicopters in India.

“The first batch of helicopters will come out of our production facility at Tumkur in Karnataka by 2025 if everything goes as per plan,” Indo-Russian Helicopters Ltd CEO N M Srinath said.


Under the joint venture, 200 Kamov 226T helicopters will be produced. Of these, 60 will be supplied to India in fly-away condition while 140 choppers will be manufactured in India under a USD 1 billion deal.

India is procuring the Kamov choppers to replace its ageing Cheetah and Chetak helicopters.

The Kamov Ka-226T helicopter has 72 per cent Russian components and 28 per cent from various western countries.

Srinath said the helicopters to be produced in India will have around 70 per cent Indian-origin components out of the 72 per cent Russian indigenisation.

Overall, he said, the percentage of the Indian-origin component in the chopper will be around 40 per cent.

The joint venture has already sent a detailed proposal to the government on the production of the helicopters, including proposed percentage of the indigenous component. A final decision on the order will have to be cleared by the Defence Acquisition Council, the highest decision-making body of the Defence ministry on procurement.

The government approved the technical configuration for the twin-engine multi-role helicopter, which is known for its superior manoeuvring capabilities in mountainous areas.

The Kamov helicopters will be supplied to the Indian Air Force and the Army. Both the forces have been pressing for early conclusion of the deal so they can replace their ageing fleet within the next three to four years The joint venture has already finalised an agreement specifying work-schedule and techno-commercial issues.
https://www.defencenews.in/article/...-rolled-out-from-Tumkur-by-2025-Report-809197
 

Hittrom

New Member
Joined
Jan 9, 2020
Messages
7
Likes
4
I hope to see LCH and LUH both getting at least negotiated soon or atleast before next LS elections no one knows what the time holds if Modi is not elected
 

WolfPack86

Senior Member
Joined
Oct 20, 2015
Messages
10,498
Likes
16,938
Country flag
Roadmap cleared for making Kamov 226T Light Utility Helicopter in India
The first chopper will arrive from Russia 24 months from the approval of the contract and the ones to be produced indigenously by the HAL, will be delivered 36 months from contract approval.

LUCKNOW: India and Russia and Thursday signed a document laying the roadmap for the ‘Transfer of Technology’ with regard to the manufacture of Kamov 226T Light Utility Helicopter in India.


Speaking on the deal, which was clinched on the sidelines of the ongoing DEFEXPO 2020 in Lucknow, NM Shrinat, CEO, Indo-Russian Helicopters Ltd (IRHL), the joint venture concern, said, “We have signed documents, which lay out the roadmap for transfer of technology with regard to joint manufacture of the helicopters.”


He said the first chopper will arrive from Russia 24 months from the approval of the contract and the ones to be produced indigenously by the Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), will be delivered 36 months from contract approval.


The document, signed by Russia Helicopters Holding Company (part of Rostec State Corporation) and IRHL, aims at localized production of the light-combat choppers.


In a media release, Russian Helicopters Holding Company, said, “The document defines the main stages and terms for organising the production of the Ka-226T helicopter and its units in India with respect to the date when the corresponding contract will be signed.”


The roadmap details timelines for setting up production facilities in India, forging contracts with suppliers, transferring design documentation, technological equipment and machine kits and training Indian personnel, as well as other key stages of the project to localise production of the 226T choppers.

Conclave lauds defence initiatives in Africa


The first-ever India Africa Defence Ministers’ Conclave was held on the sidelines of the DefExpo, which is ongoing in Lucknow, on Thursday.


The conclave appreciated India’s contribution to defence and security in Africa by setting up defence academies and colleges in countries such as Nigeria, Ethiopia and Tanzania, among others.
 

WolfPack86

Senior Member
Joined
Oct 20, 2015
Messages
10,498
Likes
16,938
Country flag
Russian Ka-226T Light Utility Helicopters will be Make In India specific- N.M. Srikanth, (CEO)- IRHL
 

WolfPack86

Senior Member
Joined
Oct 20, 2015
Messages
10,498
Likes
16,938
Country flag
Indo-Russian Light Copter ‘Overdue’, India’s Own Speeds Up
This August, a pair of HAL Light Utility Helicopter (LUH) prototypes will head to the Siachen glacier for a final capability demonstration to the Indian Army. The two prototypes will provide finishing touches to what has been a highly successful proving exercise to the Army, which plans to induct at least 126 LUH to replace its Cheetah and Chetak helicopters.


The Indian Air Force, which plans to induct at least 60 LUH, is already convinced — certification with the IAF was completed recently. With the final high altitude trials in August with the Army, the LUH will be ready in all respects for operational service, a process that will kick off next year.


The final stretch is good news in ways not immediately visible. These may be simple helicopters, but they’re more urgently needed than any other type at this time. The helicopters that the LUH will replace — the Cheetahs and Chetaks — form the core of aerial logistics to India’s forward areas at forbidding high altitudes. Both of those types, of French vintage and license produced for decades by HAL, have been up for replacement for years. The LUH itself was borne from repeated past attempts at procuring replacements for the in-service helicopters.


The new LUH update broke in an exclusive Livefist interview with HAL’s chairman. You can watch that full video at Livefist’s YouTube channel, here.


The August trials at the super-high altitude terrain in the Himalayas will be the second such test of the LUH. In September last year, an LUH went through trials at Ladakh’s Daulat Beg Oldie, the world’s highest landing ground.

The LUH achieved initial operational clearance (IOC) in February, with FOC planned for next year, by which time paperwork on inductions will have begun. Both the IAF and Army have expressed confidence in starting procurement procedures, a sign that the LUH has established early maturity. Most work towards FOC will focus on systems and automatic flight control system (AFCS) work until the services issue their requests for quotation (RFQ) with firm requirements.


With a high rate of production planned, LUHs will be churned out from HAL’s Bengaluru rotorcraft facility to replace in-service Chetak and Cheetah helicopters that form a crucial logistical element in India’s high altitude deployments.


Meanwhile, a splendid set of photographs (by HAL rotorwing designer Gagan Deep Singh) of the 3 LUH prototypes flying in formation on June 13 in Bengaluru has underscored the high energy coursing through this crucial program as it enters the final stretch. The formation was a farewell gift to the LUH program’s chief designer who retires at the end of this month. (Text continues after the photographs)

While the LUH speeds towards final capability, the program it shares space with has ground to a halt, with no forward movement for three years now. The HAL-Russian Helicopters joint venture to manufacture the Kamov Ka-226T light helicopter in Tumakuru near Bengaluru is ‘overdue’, HAL’s chairman R. Madhavan tells Livefist, with negotiations stuck on the level of indigenous content in the helicopters. HAL has insisted on a minimum of 70% indigenous content.


It is with the MoD to take a final decision. Everything as far as the technical evaluation is complete. There are a couple of things regarding indigenous content. It will move forward. After that there will be price bid opening, and we are all prepared for that. It will be through a joint venture company. We have been waiting, it’s actually overdue,” HAL chairman R. Madhavan told Livefist.

Given the urgency of the requirement for these helicopters, it is with a sense of alarm that the armed forces are regarding the stalled program. It was nearly five years ago, in December 2015, that HAL and Russia had tied up and decided to manufacture the Ka-226T. Even accounting for procedure, the fact that not a piece of metal has been cut towards a Ka-226T airframe is telling.


The Ka-226T and HAL’s LUH will each supply approximately half of the a total requirement of 384 helicopters for the Indian Army and IAF.
 

WolfPack86

Senior Member
Joined
Oct 20, 2015
Messages
10,498
Likes
16,938
Country flag
Rajnath Singh goes arms shopping to Russia | India Today Insight
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh arrived in Moscow on the evening of June 22 to attend the victory parade scheduled for June 24. He will represent India at the grand parade in Moscow’s Red Square, which will commemorate the 75th anniversary of Russia’s victory over Germany in World War II. Defence ministry officials said the visit will “strengthen the longstanding special and privileged strategic partnership between India and Russia”.

It is Singh’s line-up of three crucial meetings on June 23 that are far more significant given the ongoing border tensions between India and China and the fact that Moscow is New Delhi’s largest arms supplier.

Singh will meet all the key people in Russia’s vast military industrial complex—defence minister general Sergei Shoygu, deputy prime minister Yury Borisov, Sergey Chemezov, CEO of Rostec Corporation, and head of Rosoboronexport Alexander Mikheev. Both sides are yet to release details of these meetings, but key purchases of arms and ammunition are believed to be on the anvil.

Border tensions with China have been rising after the June 15 incident, where 20 Indian soldiers were killed in fierce hand-to-hand combat on the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in eastern Ladakh. It now emerges that the commanding officer of the Chinese unit was also killed in the skirmish between the Indian soldiers and troopers of the People’s Liberation Army.

The Indian army and air force have moved key assets like tanks, artillery, fighter jets and helicopter gunships to the LAC with China. The government recently permitted each of the three services to buy arms and ammunition up to Rs 500 crore. Accompanying the defence minister to Russia are defence secretary Ajay Kumar and chief of integrated defence staff Vice Admiral Hari Kumar.

Nearly half of India’s present military arsenal is of Russian origin. Consequently, all three services have drawn up emergency procurement lists to immediately purchase missiles and specialised ammunition for their Russian-origin fighter jets, tanks, warships and submarines.

That there was much more to the trip than the parade was known last week. The defence ministry informed Russian authorities of Singh’s visit as late as the evening of June 19. The invitations were sent out to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the defence minister in February this year. The high-level visit comes when relations between India and China are at the worst in decades. The Indian government believes this to be a unilateral move by China to alter the LAC and is clear that the Chinese troops will have to restore status quo—move to where they were, behind the LAC, on May 5.

ALSO READ | Bloodbath ridge: What happened in Galwan Valley

Singh’s high-profile visit will speed up purchases of urgently required arms. “Russia is one country in the world that will give you the arms and ammunition in the quantities that you want, virtually overnight,” says a government official.

Russia is India’s largest arms partner, with arms deals worth over $10 billion in the pipeline (see graphic). Deals signed recently include a $3 billion lease of a second Akula class nuclear-powered attack submarine from Russia, a $950 million deal for two Krivak class frigates. Of immediate interest are two big-ticket deals. The first is for 33 combat jets from Russia—12 Su-30MKIs to be built in India and 21 MiG-29 fighter airframes to be refurbished and upgraded for $1.4 billion. India also wants deliveries of five systems of the S-400 air defence missile system to be speeded up. The first units of the $5.4 billion system are slated for delivery in late 2021. The Russian side has conveyed that earlier delivery will be difficult given the need for training Indian crews to man the complex missile system.
 

WolfPack86

Senior Member
Joined
Oct 20, 2015
Messages
10,498
Likes
16,938
Country flag
India, Russia to fast track Ka-226T chopper and AK203 rifle production; India to receive helicopter technology
India and Russia have agreed to resolve issues around the production of Ka-226T and AK203 projects and fast track it. Fast-tracking for the production of Ka 226T and AK203 was discussed during Indian defence minister visit to Moscow earlier this week.


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


Ka-226 T 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 22T 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 Bengaluru. The maximum speed of Ka226t is 220km/h and can carry a weight of 3600kg with a payload of 785 kg.

AK203 is the variant of Kalashnikov family of rifles and will be produced at the Indo Russia Rifles Private Limited (IRRPL) rifle manufacturing facility in Korwa, Amethi. Compared to earlier Kalashnikov rifles, AK203 is considered to have better accuracy.


The rifle has customizability due to use of the Picatinny rail, which enables instalment on the basic rifle of additional equipment and therefore can be quickly adapted for the various components of the Indian Forces. The gun has been already tested under the conditions of extreme heat and cold.
 

WolfPack86

Senior Member
Joined
Oct 20, 2015
Messages
10,498
Likes
16,938
Country flag
India, Russia to fast track production of Ka-226T chopper, AK203 rifle
India and Russia have agreed to resolve issues around the production of Ka-226T helicopters and AK203 rifle and put them on a fast track. Fast-tracking for the production of Ka 226T and AK203 was discussed during Defence Minister Rajnath Singh's visit to Moscow earlier this week.

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

Ka-226T helicopter project announced in 2014 is expected to replace Indian army's light utility helicopters Cheetah and Chetak.


The main aim of the project is "Make in India" production of the helicopters with scaled up role of Indian companies. 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 helicopters will be produced at a factory in Bengaluru. The maximum speed of Ka-226T helicopters is 220kmph and it can carry a weight of up to 3600kg with a payload of 785 kg.

AK203 is a modern variant of Kalashnikov family of rifles and will be produced at the Indo Russia Rifles Private Limited (IRRPL) rifle manufacturing facility in Korwa, Amethi. Compared to earlier Kalashnikov rifles, AK203 is considered to have better accuracy.

The rifle has customizability due to use of the Picatinny rail which enables instalment on the basic rifle of additional equipment and therefore can be quickly adapted for the various components of the Indian Forces. The gun has been already tested under the conditions of extreme heat and cold.
 

WolfPack86

Senior Member
Joined
Oct 20, 2015
Messages
10,498
Likes
16,938
Country flag




Ka-226T during trials in india. HAL’s JV company, Indo Russian Helicopters Limited (IRHL) will be producing 200 of these from a facility near Bengaluru. HAL chairman recently called the project ‘overdue’ and delayed over MoD-level negotiations on the level of indigenous content.
 

tarrakiao

New Member
Joined
Jul 2, 2020
Messages
2
Likes
2
Country flag
Kamov is primarily for carrying equipment at high altitude, because auto clicker of its configurable payload capability. Kamov also has twin engine.

LUH is for primarily for personnel transport. Single engine.
 

WolfPack86

Senior Member
Joined
Oct 20, 2015
Messages
10,498
Likes
16,938
Country flag
Why India Has To Maintain And Insist On A Delicate Balance In Its Relationship With US And Russia
As tensions rose in Eastern Ladakh in early May after thousands of Chinese troops were diverted to the border, the Indian Air Force rushed men and vital supplies to the Line of Actual Control on its most trusted steed — the C-130J special operations aircraft. A workhorse that has proved its capabilities to quickly transport goods to the roughest of terrains, the aircraft flew multiple sorties to forward locations to quickly build up forces and match the shockingly fast Chinese escalation, which was on the back of an excellent road network in Aksai Chin



Later, in a show of resolve, the C-130Js were used for airborne operations involving special forces as a demonstration before the defence minister in Ladakh. The strategic lift operations were a sort of homecoming for the C-130J Super Hercules; its predecessor had performed similar operations during the 1962 India-China war.



Responding to a desperate plea by the then PM Jawaharlal Nehru, the US operated C-130 Hercules aircraft to quickly send troops to Ladakh and Assam — a record 5,000 soldiers in four days — as the Chinese threatened to overwhelm the entire frontier. A detachment of 12 aircraft remained deployed for nine months and served as an air bridge to maintain troops on the border.



Almost six decades later, after going through the worst slump possible, the India-US relationship is stronger than ever before — and the C-130J operations are just a sign of the cooperation during the current crisis which includes real-time sharing of intelligence, regular contact at the topmost levels and even highly symbolic joint naval exercises.



The closeness comes on the back of a sustained two-decade effort by both India and the US to iron out differences and agree on protocols in working together against common threats. The US is currently India’s biggest military training partner, with over two dozen exercises taking place annually. India, once reluctant to purchase US military equipment, is now negotiating to purchase armed drones and an air defence system to protect the national capital itself.



Two defence pacts in particular — the Logistics Exchange Memorandum of Agreement (2016) for sharing military logistics and the Communications Compatibility and Security Agreement or COMCASA (2018) for secure communications — have been the foundation for building trust and cooperation. While both agreements had been in discussion for years, the NDA government signed them, greatly enhancing the potential of joint operations.



The pact of secure communications came in handy during the Galwan crisis. While the US had assured and delivered support to India during the Doklam crisis too, the sharing of information was hampered as there were no secure communication lines to support live satellite imagery and other intelligence and a longer, more cumbersome way had to be found.



After the signing of the COMCASA, the US can directly respond to Indian service headquarters’ request for information — from the latest Chinese troop positions on the border to possible build-up in depth and more critical real-time inputs.



The growing India-US ties, however, seem to be in the shadow of another giant that has been New Delhi’s most trusted defence partner: Russia. The hiccups in the India-US ties lately have come from its relationship with Russia — Moscow remains India’s top weapons supplier and has been coming under stronger action by Washington for its arms exports.

India’s decision to buy S-400 air defence systems, for example, has led to threats of sanctions by the US. American financial sanctions now apply to almost all Russian defence entities, a bulk of which works with India and is involved in strategic projects. While action has not yet been taken against India, what happened to Turkey is illustrative — the country was kicked out of the F-35 fifth-generation fighter programme because it purchased the Russian S-400s.



After the Galwan crisis, India has been in talks with Russia for spare parts, ammunition and weapons worth over $ 1 billion — the reason being that a bulk of equipment with the armed forces is of Russian origin, a fact that is unlikely to change soon.



From Su-30MKI fighters to T-90 main battle tanks and the new AK-203 assault rifles, Indian forces are heavily equipped with Russian arms. The dependence is even more critical on the strategic level — the nuclear-armed Arihant submarine could not have been possible without Russian assistance and India even leases a nuclear attack submarine from Moscow.



Even the S-400 — the biggest bone of contention with the US right now – was a system that no one else had on offer for India when it was first negotiated. It is clear that while India can widen its procurement basket, it will remain close to Russia for its strategic programmes and joint development of weapon systems.



Decoupling India’s choice of arms suppliers from the strategic relationship it has forged with the US is the way ahead. More importantly, will the US share technology and engage in joint development of future weapons with India? Beyond the current level of joint training and information sharing, this would be the real test of partnership in the emerging world.
 

WolfPack86

Senior Member
Joined
Oct 20, 2015
Messages
10,498
Likes
16,938
Country flag
India hopes to ink deal for manufacturing Russia's Kamov Ka-226 helicopters
Indian Ambassador to Russia Venkatesh Varma on Monday said that India hopes to ink a deal for manufacturing Russia's Kamov Ka-226 helicopters in the country next year.

"There are still some technical discussions regarding indigenisation of production in India of the Kamov 226 helicopters. We hope that these discussions will be successful soon and therefore we will then go to the next stage of the signing of the contract for the production of Kamov 226," Varma told Sputnik.

Earlier this month, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh launched Konkurs Missile Test Equipment and Konkurs Launcher Test Equipment, which have been indigenously designed and developed by Bharat Dynamics Limited (BDL).

These products were earlier being imported from Russia.

Meanwhile, Varma told Sputnik that the defence industry cooperation will be one of the key areas of collaboration between India and Russia and it will be addressed at the upcoming India-Russia bilateral summit.

"[The Indian-Russian bilateral summit] will cover all issues -- political, economic, trade, energy. And, of course, defence cooperation will be one of the main pillars of cooperation," Varma told Sputnik.

"We expect some very major announcements, including Russian support for the Make in India program of Prime Minister Modi. Russia has extended very positive support, we are very grateful for that," he added.

Earlier today, the diplomat said that External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar is likely to attend the events of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO).

Further, Prime Minister Narendra Modi is also expected to participate in the SCO meet.
 

WolfPack86

Senior Member
Joined
Oct 20, 2015
Messages
10,498
Likes
16,938
Country flag
Working hard to ensure early supply of S-400 missile systems to India: Russia

Russia on Thursday said it was working "very hard" to advance the supply of the S-400 surface-to-air missiles to India even though the delivery of the first batch of the weapons system is scheduled by the end of next year. At an online media briefing, Russian Deputy Chief of Mission Roman Babushkin also said that both sides are working on a mutual logistics support agreement and close to seal a multi-billion dollar deal under which an Indo-Russian joint venture will produce 200 Kamov Ka-226T attack helicopters for the Indian armed forces.

Asked whether the Basic Exchange and Cooperation Agreement (BECA) signed between India and the US will have security implications in operation of Russian-origin platforms by the Indian armed forces, Babushkin did not give a direct reply, but said Moscow's defence ties with India are immune to any "restrictions and foreign interference".

"We are watching quite closely the relations in strategic areas between India and other nations including the US, of course. But at the same time we are absolutely sure that whatever ties India is developing with other nations, they would not be at the expense of Russia's interests," he said.


Last month, India and the US inked the landmark BECA agreement that will provide for sharing of high-end military technology, geospatial maps and classified satellite data between their militaries.

"As far as our defence cooperation with India is concerned, it is immune to any restrictions and foreign interference, because it reflects national interests of both countries and we are proceeding with a great sense of confidence to the future progress in our ties," Babushkin said.

On the S-400 deal, he said: "The deadlines remained unchanged at the moment. The first batch is expected to be supplied by end of 2021 but we are working very hard for an earlier supply."

In October 2018, India had signed a USD 5 billion deal with Russia to buy five units of the S-400 air defence missile systems, notwithstanding warning from the Trump administration that going ahead with the contract may invite US sanction.

In view of the evolving security scenario in its neighbourhood, India recently requested Russia to explore the possibility of advancing the supply of the interceptor-based missile systems which can destroy incoming hostile aircraft, missiles and even drones at ranges of up to 400 km.

Last year, India made the first tranche of payment of around USD 800 million to Russia for the missile systems. The S-400 is known as Russia's most advanced long-range surface-to-air missile defence system.

Babushkin said the Kamov helicopter deal and another one to manufacture 700,000 AK-47 203 rifles in India under a Indo-Russian joint venture were in the final stages of conclusion.

In October 2016, India and Russia had finalised a broad agreement to set up joint venture between Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL NSE 3.32 %) and two Russian defence majors for procuring 200 Kamov Ka-226T choppers for Indian armed forces.

According to the understanding, 60 Kamov-226T helicopters will be supplied to India in fly-away condition, while 140 will be manufactured in India. Russia had agreed to ensure transfer of technologies to India as part of the pact.

India and Russia finalised the deal for manufacturing AK-203 rifles during Defence Minister Rajnath Singh's visit to Moscow two months back.

On the Mutual Logistics Support Agreement (MLSA), Babushkin said it will help in deepening maritime security cooperation between the two countries, particularly in the Indian Ocean Region.

The MLSA will allow militaries of the two countries to use each other's bases for repair and replenishment of supplies besides facilitating scaling up of overall defence cooperation.

India has already signed similar agreements with the US, Australia, Japan, France and Singapore.

The Russian Deputy Chief of Mission also said that both countries were also working on a number of other military acquisition programmes including supply of another batch Su-30 MKI aircraft to India. The other major programmes mentioned by him are relating to main battle tanks, frigates, submarines and missiles.

The Kamov helicopters will be supplied to the Indian Air Force and the Army. Both these forces have been pressing for early conclusion of the deal so that they could replace their ageing fleet of existing choppers within next three to four years.

Babushkin said Russia is also aiming to ensure its largest participation in the upcoming Aero-India, considered Asia's largest aerospace exhibition. The exhibition will take place in Bengaluru in February.

"It will also see new developments in our defence partnerships," he said.

 

WolfPack86

Senior Member
Joined
Oct 20, 2015
Messages
10,498
Likes
16,938
Country flag
ARMY TO SEEK WAIVER FROM DEFENCE MINISTRY TO EXPEDITE HELICOPTER DEAL
Cheetah and Chetak helicopters in dire need of replacement


With the deal for Ka-226T utility helicopters with Russia not concluded five years after it was announced and its fleet of Cheetah and Chetak helicopters at the end of their service life, the Army is set to approach the Defence Ministry for a waiver to take the deal forward.

“About 75% of the Army’s fleet of Cheetah and Chetak helicopters is over 30 years old. Some of them are about 50 years old. We need urgent replacements. The Ka-226T deal with Russia has been stuck over indigenisation. So the Army is approaching the Ministry of Defence [MoD] for a waiver to conclude the deal,” a defence official said on condition of anonymity.

Operational Capability

Stating that the operational capability has already been impacted due to deficiencies and non-availability of replacement, the official stated, “The total technical life of these helicopters will start finishing from 2023 onwards. So the existing deficiencies will keep increasing.”

In 2015, India and Russia had concluded an Inter-Governmental Agreement (IGA) for at least 200 Ka-226T twin engine utility helicopters estimated to cost over $1 billion with 60 helicopters to be directly imported and remaining 140 manufactured locally. They are to replace the ageing and obsolete Cheetah and Chetak fleet of the Army and the Air Force.

A joint venture India Russia Helicopters Limited (IRHL) has been set up between Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) and Russian Helicopters (RH) which will assemble the helicopters in India. The Request For Proposal (RFP) issued by the MoD to IRHL for 200 helicopters stated 70% localisation over which the final deal has been held up as the JV quoted localisation of 62.4% in its response.

Efforts to resolve this impasse in the last few months by adopting a revised methodology has not made any progress, it has been learnt. As the RFP states 70% indigenous content, it cannot be modified. Withdrawing it and issuing a new one would mean another 2-3 years lost. “The Army is now in a desperate situation for replacements and is preparing to take the case to the Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) for a waiver to proceed with 62.4%,” the official stated.

Import Content

“Even indigenous platforms like Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH) and Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) have significant import content. How can an imported and assembled platform meet 70% requirement,” the official questioned. According to a March 2020 report of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Defence, the ALH has 46% import content by value, TEJAS – 40% and Su-30MKI assembled by HAL with technology transfer also has 40%.

The issue has been taken up by Army Chief General Manoj Naravane with Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, another official said. The Army has around 185 Cheetah and Chetak helicopters with around 20 helicopters with HAL for overhaul for around a year at any point of time.

The Requirement

There is a requirement of around 400 such helicopters with the remaining to be met by the indigenous Light Utility helicopter being developed by HAL.

The first helicopter would be delivered within 36 months from the signing of the contract and order completed in eight years. The helicopter is powered by a French engine and would have 74% Russian content and 26% European content. It is not possible to meet the 70% localisation requirement on 160 helicopters, a diplomatic source said.

At Defexpo 2020 in Lucknow early this year, officials from RH explained that the localisation plan would be spread over four phases beginning with 3.3% indigenisation for 35 helicopters, going to 15% for next 25 helicopters, 35% for 30 helicopters in Phase 3 and eventually to 62.4% indigenisation in Phase 4 for the last 50 helicopters.
 

Global Defence

Articles

Top