Indian Army Kamov 226 T helicopter

WolfPack86

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Ka-226T utility chopper has 33% indigenous content: HAL
The total indigenous content of the Ka-226T utility helicopters, to be jointly manufactured locally by India and Russia with Transfer of Technology (ToT), is between 27%-33%, said Chairman and Managing Director of Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) R. Madhavan. The final deal is held up as the Russian proposal of 62% indigenous content in assembled helicopters falls short of the tender requirement of 70%,

“In Ka-226T when we talk of 70% indigenous content, it is not the same as the Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) 52%. The 70% is of the Russian content. Engine from Safran and avionics from other countries are not accounted for in this. Balance is what we are looking and from there 70% is taken. Taking the whole helicopter, the indigenous content is about 27-33%,” he said in response to a question from The Hindu at Aero India.

Russians were unable to offer 70% of this and they offered upto 62%; that too which will come only in Phase-4 of production, he stated.


Defence Ministry is also asking for better split of indigenous production from Phase-2 onwards and increasing it to 70% by including more items, Mr. Madhavan said, adding that the items are being identified for including in the Transfer of Technology to bring the indigenous content up to 70%.

The Ka-226T is meant to replace the ageing and obsolete Cheetah and Chetak fleet of the Army and Air Force and the total technical life of these will start finishing from 2023 onwards.

As per the Russian proposal, the localisation plan would be spread over four phases, beginning with 3.3% indigenisation for 35 helicopters, going up 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.

The helicopters would be manufactured by a joint venture — India Russia Helicopters Limited (IRHL) between Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) and Russian Helicopters.

As reported by The Hindu last December, faced with an urgent need for utility helicopters, the Army is preparing to approach the Defence Ministry for a waiver on the indigenous content requirements to take the deal forward.

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. The first helicopter would be delivered within 36 months from the signing of the contract and order completed in eight years.

There is a requirement of around 400 such helicopters and the balance requirement will be met by the indigenous Light Utility helicopter (LUH) developed by HAL, the Army variant of which received its Initial Operational Clearance (IOC) at Aero India on Friday.
 

SUPERPOWER

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Ka-226T utility chopper has 33% indigenous content: HAL
The total indigenous content of the Ka-226T utility helicopters, to be jointly manufactured locally by India and Russia with Transfer of Technology (ToT), is between 27%-33%, said Chairman and Managing Director of Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) R. Madhavan. The final deal is held up as the Russian proposal of 62% indigenous content in assembled helicopters falls short of the tender requirement of 70%,

“In Ka-226T when we talk of 70% indigenous content, it is not the same as the Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) 52%. The 70% is of the Russian content. Engine from Safran and avionics from other countries are not accounted for in this. Balance is what we are looking and from there 70% is taken. Taking the whole helicopter, the indigenous content is about 27-33%,” he said in response to a question from The Hindu at Aero India.

Russians were unable to offer 70% of this and they offered upto 62%; that too which will come only in Phase-4 of production, he stated.


Defence Ministry is also asking for better split of indigenous production from Phase-2 onwards and increasing it to 70% by including more items, Mr. Madhavan said, adding that the items are being identified for including in the Transfer of Technology to bring the indigenous content up to 70%.

The Ka-226T is meant to replace the ageing and obsolete Cheetah and Chetak fleet of the Army and Air Force and the total technical life of these will start finishing from 2023 onwards.

As per the Russian proposal, the localisation plan would be spread over four phases, beginning with 3.3% indigenisation for 35 helicopters, going up 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.

The helicopters would be manufactured by a joint venture — India Russia Helicopters Limited (IRHL) between Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) and Russian Helicopters.

As reported by The Hindu last December, faced with an urgent need for utility helicopters, the Army is preparing to approach the Defence Ministry for a waiver on the indigenous content requirements to take the deal forward.

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. The first helicopter would be delivered within 36 months from the signing of the contract and order completed in eight years.

There is a requirement of around 400 such helicopters and the balance requirement will be met by the indigenous Light Utility helicopter (LUH) developed by HAL, the Army variant of which received its Initial Operational Clearance (IOC) at Aero India on Friday.
We dont need this anymore..
 

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Indigenous light choppers get go-ahead, delivery in 2022
India is going ahead with an indigenous light utility helicopter (LUH) after it proved it worth during high altitude operations, including at the Daulat Beg Oldie (DBO) airstrip on the China border. The defence ministry has given the go ahead for placing an order for 12 of the choppers, with developer and manufacturer Hindustan Aeronautics NSE -1.37 % Limited (HAL) expected to deliver the first by August next year.

The LUH is a homegrown success story, having demonstrated its capability of operating in all kinds of environments, with a focus on high altitude missions that are essential for maintaining troops on the Pakistan and China border.

HAL Chairman R Madhavan told ET that the letter of acceptance for 12 helicopters – six each for the army and air force – has been received and work has started to produce the aircraft. “The LoA has been received and we plan to deliver the first helicopter by next year. The production facility at Tumkur is ready and we will manufacture the choppers there,” he said.

The LUH order is a boost for the Make in India initiative, given that the chopper has been fully designed and developed in house by HAL, borrowing on the expertise gained by older platforms like the Advanced Light Helicopter.

While 12 helicopters are to be ordered in the first lot, the expected requirement of the LUH within the services is pegged at 185. In addition, India and Russia have also been negotiating a deal for the Kamov Ka 226 helicopters for the army and air force to fulfil the large needs of such type of aircraft.

The LUH will progressively replace the Chetak and Cheetah helicopters that operate at impossible heights on the border, including the Siachen glacier. Given its new design, the LUH can carry more than eight times the meaningful payload to the highest helipads in the world, as compared to the Cheetahs.

The indigenous chopper has gone through rigorous trials and tests by the services, including at forward helipads on the border. These include test missions from Leh to both the China and Pakistan borders. It has also demonstrated a flawless flight from Bangalore to Leh, a distance of over 3000 km, in three days without any servicing issues.
 

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Kamov choppers won’t meet 70% indigenous content requirement, but JV firm sure of deal
Lucknow:
The much-awaited Indo-Russian joint venture to make the light utility chopper Kamov 226T won’t meet the 70 per cent indigenous content requirement, ThePrint has learnt.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Vladimir Putin had announced the deal for 200 Kamov 226T in 2015 as India sought to replace the ageing Cheetah and Chetak choppers.


The Ministry of Defence will have to take a fresh look at the Request for Proposal (RFP) to either tweak the indigenous content requirement or approve a new techno-commercial proposal submitted by Indo-Russian Helicopters Ltd (IRGL), according to sources.

IRGL is a joint venture between state-run Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd and two Russian firms, Russian Helicopters and Rosoboronexport. In a fresh submission to the ministry, it has proposed lower indigenisation.

Under the original RFP, there is a requirement of 70 per cent indigenisation of Russian content — which stands at 74 per cent — in the lightweight military helicopters.


IRGL confident of deal
Speaking on the sidelines of the DefenceExpo 2020 in Lucknow, IRGL chief executive M.N. Srinath said the company has submitted a detailed proposal to the Defence Ministry.

According to the submitted proposal, in phase one 60 helicopters will come in fly away condition from Russia and 35 would be manufactured in India with 3.3 per cent indigenisation of the original Russian content.


Under phase 2, 25 helicopters will be manufactured in India with 15 per cent indigenisation. This will increase to 35 per cent in phase 3 under which 30 helicopters will be manufactured.

Only in phase 4 will India achieve 62.41 per cent of indigenisation to build 50 Kamov 226T helicopters.


“We have submitted our techno-commercial bid. There was a clarification needed by the MoD on the indigenisation content and we have submitted our proposal. The MoD will now take it up in the meeting of the Defence Acquisition Council,” Srinath said.

The IRGL CEO expressed confidence that the defence ministry will accept the proposal paving the way for eventual contract that has been pending for five years.


According to the timeline, deliveries of the choppers will begin 24 months from contract signing and the first India-made chopper will roll out 36 months after the signing date.

The proposed manufacturing facilities in Karnataka’s Tumkur are in the process of construction, added Srinath.


The first India-made helicopters were to be delivered by 2021 under the deal. This was delayed by several years as differences cropped up over pricing and indigenisation.


Modi and Putin had signed the deal in 2015 to cater to the needs of the Army and the Indian Air Force. It was the Modi government’s first Government to Government deal.
 

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Kamov choppers won’t meet 70% indigenous content requirement, but JV firm sure of deal
Lucknow:
The much-awaited Indo-Russian joint venture to make the light utility chopper Kamov 226T won’t meet the 70 per cent indigenous content requirement, ThePrint has learnt.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Vladimir Putin had announced the deal for 200 Kamov 226T in 2015 as India sought to replace the ageing Cheetah and Chetak choppers.


The Ministry of Defence will have to take a fresh look at the Request for Proposal (RFP) to either tweak the indigenous content requirement or approve a new techno-commercial proposal submitted by Indo-Russian Helicopters Ltd (IRGL), according to sources.

IRGL is a joint venture between state-run Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd and two Russian firms, Russian Helicopters and Rosoboronexport. In a fresh submission to the ministry, it has proposed lower indigenisation.

Under the original RFP, there is a requirement of 70 per cent indigenisation of Russian content — which stands at 74 per cent — in the lightweight military helicopters.


IRGL confident of deal
Speaking on the sidelines of the DefenceExpo 2020 in Lucknow, IRGL chief executive M.N. Srinath said the company has submitted a detailed proposal to the Defence Ministry.

According to the submitted proposal, in phase one 60 helicopters will come in fly away condition from Russia and 35 would be manufactured in India with 3.3 per cent indigenisation of the original Russian content.


Under phase 2, 25 helicopters will be manufactured in India with 15 per cent indigenisation. This will increase to 35 per cent in phase 3 under which 30 helicopters will be manufactured.

Only in phase 4 will India achieve 62.41 per cent of indigenisation to build 50 Kamov 226T helicopters.


“We have submitted our techno-commercial bid. There was a clarification needed by the MoD on the indigenisation content and we have submitted our proposal. The MoD will now take it up in the meeting of the Defence Acquisition Council,” Srinath said.

The IRGL CEO expressed confidence that the defence ministry will accept the proposal paving the way for eventual contract that has been pending for five years.


According to the timeline, deliveries of the choppers will begin 24 months from contract signing and the first India-made chopper will roll out 36 months after the signing date.

The proposed manufacturing facilities in Karnataka’s Tumkur are in the process of construction, added Srinath.


The first India-made helicopters were to be delivered by 2021 under the deal. This was delayed by several years as differences cropped up over pricing and indigenisation.


Modi and Putin had signed the deal in 2015 to cater to the needs of the Army and the Indian Air Force. It was the Modi government’s first Government to Government deal.
Wow, they really need to cancel this one, asap.
 

FalconSlayers

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Kamov choppers won’t meet 70% indigenous content requirement, but JV firm sure of deal
Lucknow:
The much-awaited Indo-Russian joint venture to make the light utility chopper Kamov 226T won’t meet the 70 per cent indigenous content requirement, ThePrint has learnt.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Vladimir Putin had announced the deal for 200 Kamov 226T in 2015 as India sought to replace the ageing Cheetah and Chetak choppers.


The Ministry of Defence will have to take a fresh look at the Request for Proposal (RFP) to either tweak the indigenous content requirement or approve a new techno-commercial proposal submitted by Indo-Russian Helicopters Ltd (IRGL), according to sources.

IRGL is a joint venture between state-run Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd and two Russian firms, Russian Helicopters and Rosoboronexport. In a fresh submission to the ministry, it has proposed lower indigenisation.

Under the original RFP, there is a requirement of 70 per cent indigenisation of Russian content — which stands at 74 per cent — in the lightweight military helicopters.


IRGL confident of deal
Speaking on the sidelines of the DefenceExpo 2020 in Lucknow, IRGL chief executive M.N. Srinath said the company has submitted a detailed proposal to the Defence Ministry.

According to the submitted proposal, in phase one 60 helicopters will come in fly away condition from Russia and 35 would be manufactured in India with 3.3 per cent indigenisation of the original Russian content.


Under phase 2, 25 helicopters will be manufactured in India with 15 per cent indigenisation. This will increase to 35 per cent in phase 3 under which 30 helicopters will be manufactured.

Only in phase 4 will India achieve 62.41 per cent of indigenisation to build 50 Kamov 226T helicopters.


“We have submitted our techno-commercial bid. There was a clarification needed by the MoD on the indigenisation content and we have submitted our proposal. The MoD will now take it up in the meeting of the Defence Acquisition Council,” Srinath said.

The IRGL CEO expressed confidence that the defence ministry will accept the proposal paving the way for eventual contract that has been pending for five years.


According to the timeline, deliveries of the choppers will begin 24 months from contract signing and the first India-made chopper will roll out 36 months after the signing date.

The proposed manufacturing facilities in Karnataka’s Tumkur are in the process of construction, added Srinath.


The first India-made helicopters were to be delivered by 2021 under the deal. This was delayed by several years as differences cropped up over pricing and indigenisation.


Modi and Putin had signed the deal in 2015 to cater to the needs of the Army and the Indian Air Force. It was the Modi government’s first Government to Government deal.
So why not ditch it and go for our indigenous LUH?
 

FalconSlayers

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Just cancel them.
NO, If we cancel all these, we will have to do a re-tender for these which means re testing. If AK-203 gets cancelled then a new tender floating will take an year, 5-6 years in selection and testing, 1-2 years in price negotiations and 1-2 years to commence production considering our incompetency.
 

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INDO-RUSSIAN KA-226T HELICOPTER PROJECT COULD BECOME MODEL FOR MOSCOW’S TECH TRANSFER POLICY
The Indo-Russian Ka-226T Helicopter project could become a future model for protection of Russian intellectual property (IP) while transferring technology to international partners for local manufacture and assembly.


In order to increase revenues from the commercialization of Russian intellectual property, state-owned arms export agency, Rosoboronexport (RoE) has developed methodologies for assessing the cost of technology transfer. However, fear of Russian technology being copied or reverse engineered remain.

In this context, RoE has for the first time developed methodologies for IP protection along with smooth transfer of technology (TOT) and implemented it in the KA-226 project with India.

Based on its India experience, Rosoboronexport has made recommendations (for IP protection during technology transfer to foreign partners) in future international projects.

"The methodology described in the recommendations has already been tested, and is being applied in the course of realization of a joint project with the Russian Helicopters to transfer technologies for the production of the Ka-226T helicopter in India. Rosoboronexport and Russian Helicopters have approved a roadmap with specific activities and areas of responsibility, and are following it," said RoE General Director Alexander Mikheev at a meeting of the Foreign Trade Activity Committee of the Union of Russian Machine Builders (URMB) on May 26. The URMB is dedicated to the protection of intellectual property of Russian defence companies.

During the meeting, the first vice-president of URMB, Vladimir Gutenev noted that today the Russian manufacturer is subject to sanctions pressure, even under previously executed contracts, besides in financial settlements. “At the same time, there is a growing desire on the part of customers to carry out transfers and localize technologies. In export it is often necessary to refine not only products, but also design and technological documentation,” he stressed.

Due to weak IP protection, Russian defence entities are at risk of having their products reverse-engineered, particularly in countries such as China which have a strong manufacturing base. The China-made Shenyang J-11/16 fighter jets bear a striking resemblance to the Russian Sukhoi Su-27 while the carrier-based Shenyang J-15 squares up with the Sukhoi Su-33 which was designed for carrier operation.

Former Soviet states such as Ukraine offer maintenance and overhaul services for older generation Russian equipment without approval from the original equipment manufacturer. In December 2020, Russian Helicopters had warned that Ukrainian enterprises repairing its Mi-17V-5 helicopters in service with the Afghan Air Force might endanger lives of crew as they lacked the necessary technical documentation.

Vladimir Gutenev also said that when the customer demands 100% localization of technologies, the issues of preventing the leakage of Russian technologies arise. These factors make a comprehensive approach to solving the issue of organizing ToT and the development of the current legislation both in the field of military-technical cooperation and in the field of intellectual property protection relevant.

At DefExpo 2020 expo in Lucknow Russian Helicopters had signed a roadmap with Indo-Russian Helicopters Limited (IRHL) for the production of Ka-226T helicopters in India. The document defines the main stages and terms for organizing 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 reflects the timing of preparation of production in India, contracting with suppliers, transfer of design documentation, supply of technological equipment and machine kits, training of Indian personnel and other key stages of the project to localize production of the Ka-226T helicopter in India.

“The roadmap signed today will become the basis for the further development of the Ka-226T localization project in India after the contract is signed,” said Andrey Boginsky, General Director of the Russian Helicopters holding.

In the autumn of 2020 Defenseworld.net discussed the Russian-Indian Ka-226T project in an interview with Konstantin Makienko, the deputy director of the Centre for Analysis of Strategies and Technologies (CAST), an independent Russian think tank. He pointed out, that the program was "a unique chance for India to master a number of crucial helicopter engineering technologies, including the unique coaxial rotors scheme."
 
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Russia to introduce new turboshaft engines to Asian market

Russia’s United Engine Corporation (UEC, a subsidiary of state corporation Rostec) is expanding its portfolio of turboshaft engines for helicopters.

“In 2019-2020 the UEC’s share in the global helicopter engine market was between 10 and 12 percent. The corporation now has two such engines in its portfolio of export-oriented products, namely Klimov VK-2500 and Klimov TV7-117V,” according to a UEC representative.

The UEC’s market share in the helicopter engine cluster will increase to 18-20 percent by 2035. “The introduction of new Klimov VK-650V and Klimov VK-1600V engines and the adaptation of all family of Russian helicopter engines to foreign-made platforms in UEC’s traditional markets, namely the countries of South-East Asia will be the main reasons behind the anticipated growth,” said the UEC representative.

 

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New deeply upgraded Kamove226T for high altitude operations, first flight
 

WolfPack86

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Indian Army Pushes Govt On ‘Urgent’ Acquisition Of Russian Ka-226 Helicopters
Indian Army is looking to fast-track the acquisition of the Russian Ka-226-T helicopters amid border tensions with China in Ladakh.

With the older Chetak and Cheetah helicopters at the fag-end of their technical life, India’s chopper arsenal needs urgent upgradation.

The Indian armed forces are set to request the government to acquire “a minimum inescapable quantity” of the Russian Kamov-226-T helicopters in a fly-away condition, reported The Times of India.

The single-engine Cheetah and Chetak helicopters are in a dire need of replacement. Officials told the Indian daily that operational availability of Cheetahs/Chetaks along the northern borders with China and the Siachen glacier-Saltoro Ridge region with Pakistan is down to just 50%.

The said technical life of these choppers will probably last until 2023. And hence, the forces desperately need new helicopters.

India’s Ka-226-T Deal
The Indian armed forces have been pushing for the acquisition of new light utility helicopters (LUHs) for the past two decades. In 2015, India signed an inter-governmental agreement with Russia for the acquisition of 200 Kamov Ka-226-T helicopters worth $1billion.

Out of the total 200 helicopters, 60 were to be imported directly while the remaining were to be manufactured indigenously at a joint facility at Tumakuru in Karnataka.

However, the acquisition is still stuck due to disagreements on the indigenous content, as The EurAsian Times had earlier reported. The homegrown equipment to be manufactured is between 27 to 33 percent, under the full Transfer of Technology (ToT).

R Madhavan, chairman of the state-owned Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), had said, “In Ka-226T when we talk of 70% indigenous content, it is not the same as the Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) 52%. The 70% is of the Russian content. Engine from Safran and avionics from other countries are not accounted for in this. Balance is what we are looking and from there 70% is taken. Taking the whole helicopter, the indigenous content is about 27-33 %.”

The Russian proposal had reportedly mentioned that the localization plan was to be managed in four phases. First 3.3% indigenization for 35 helicopters, second around 15% for the next 25 helicopters, 35% for the third phase of the next 30 helicopters, and accounting 62.4% indigenization in the last phase for the 50 helicopters.

The Kamov-226-T is a light, twin-engine multi-role helicopter, manufactured by the Kumertau Aviation Enterprise, Russia. It can perform surveillance, reconnaissance, search, and rescue (SAR) missions, as well as transporting cargo and troops. The military version has been specifically designed to operate in high-altitude terrains.

The Kamov-226-T is equipped with a high-visibility nose, cabin design, and a new rotor system. It has been fitted with a new transmission system and Kamov coaxial rotor system, comprising three upper rotor blades and a set of three lower rotor blades.

The new rotor system diminishes the need for a tail rotor, enabling landings and take-offs from smaller sites. The helicopter can carry a cargo weighing 1,200 kg and another 1,500 kg on an external sling. It can fly at a maximum speed of 250kmph with a cruise speed of 220 kmph.

Cheetahs & Chetaks
The Cheetah is a five-seater multi-role, highly maneuverable helicopter, which holds the world record in high-altitude flying among all categories of helicopters. Identical to the Aerospatiale SA 315 B Lama helicopter of France, HAL first signed an agreement for the helicopter in 1970.

It is equipped with the Artouste-III B turbo-shaft engine and is capable of conducting observation, surveillance, and rescue operations in high-altitude areas. The helicopter is 12.91 m long, 2.38 m wide, and 3.09 m high. It has a cruise speed of 192 kmph.

In the past decades, HAL has manufactured and sold more than 275 Cheetah helicopters for service in India and abroad.

The Chetak is a two-ton class, seven-seater, multi-role, multi-purpose helicopter. The Helicopter Division of HAL, first manufactured the Chetak in 1962, after an agreement with former Eurocopter, France, (presently Airbus). The first Chetak was acquired in a ‘Fly Away’ condition in 1965.

It is equipped with an Artouste -III B turbo-shaft engine, and the helicopter can conduct search and rescue (SAR) operations, aerial survey and patrolling, emergency medical services as well as cargo and material transport.

The Chetak is 12.84 m long, 2.59 m wide and 2.97 m high. It can carry two crew members and five troops and can fly at a speed of 185 kmph.

For decades, the Cheetah and Chetak helicopters have been used by the Indian armed forces for various purposes. However, after decades of service the choppers are facing problems with regards to serviceability and serious questions have been raised on their flight-worthiness.

The helicopters have been involved in a string of accidents and fatal crashes.

HAL’s Light Helicopter
The Indian Army desperately needs new light utility helicopters (LUHs) for reconnaissance as well as sustenance of troops in forward areas.

With the Cheetah and Chetak helicopters nearing the end of their technical life, the armed forces had urged the government to fast-track ‘Make-in-India’ projects to meet the requirements of the armed forces.

Accordingly, the HAL developed its own LUH, which cleared extensive tests last year, reported The EurAsian Times. It is expected that the LUH will complement the work of the Russian Kamov-226-T choppers.

The HAL helicopter underwent rigorous trials including envelope expansion, performance and flying technicalities at the high altitudes of Leh.

It was reported that the LUH took off from Leh and further demonstrated its hot and high hover performance at Daulat Beg Oldie (DBO) and Advanced Landing Ground (ALG) at 5000 MAMSL (height above mean sea level).

The LUH is equipped with a single Shakti -1U turboshaft engine.

Expected to replace the current Cheetah and Chetak helicopter fleets, the LUH was also tested on their payload capacity in the world’s highest battlefield – the Siachen glaciers. At the trial, the helicopters were landed at the highest helipads of Amar and Sonam.

Given the urgent need in view of threats from both China and Pakistan, the armed forces want the government to fast-track the acquisition of the Russian helicopters. Officials told The Times of India that India should import a certain number of Ka-226-Ts on a fast-track basis.

They are of the view that buying all the 200 helicopters in one go would make India dependent on the Russians for spares and maintenance. Hence, buying a limited number of choppers would address both operational and cost issues simultaneously.
 

WolfPack86

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Kamov choppers, submarine torpedoes among deals defence ministry will review this week
New Delhi: As the Narendra Modi government pushes for more indigenous systems in the military, this week the Ministry of Defence will undertake a review of several foreign procurement projects, some of which are almost in their final stages.

Sources in the defence and security establishment told ThePrint that over 10 items are up for review by the Defence Procurement Board (DPB), including a deal with Russia for Kamov helicopters for the Army and Navy, as well as heavyweight torpedoes for Scorpene submarines.

The move is part of the defence ministry’s review of all procurement under the ‘Buy (Global)’ category to push for ‘Atmanirbhar’ products in the critical sector that has been dominated by foreign purchases. Under this category, procurement is made directly from a foreign Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM).

While defence services were earlier asked to prepare a list of procurement plans from abroad that could be replaced by indigenous items, sources said all projects are under review, including those in final stages. A review does not mean cancellation, they clarified.

The Defence Acquisition Council (DAC), headed by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, had on 14 January decided to scrap a coast guard project for the procurement of 14 helicopters from abroad, besides all-terrain vehicles (ATVs) and short-range missiles.

Key deals under review
One of the key projects under review is heavyweight torpedoes for the Navy’s Scorpene submarines, which are currently using Russian-made torpedoes that have been given a life extension.

According to the original plan, the Indian Navy was to procure ‘Black Shark’ torpedoes from Italian firm WASS, owned by the AgustaWestland chopper scam-tainted Italian firm Finmeccanica, which had rebranded itself as ‘Leonardo’ a few years ago.

The plan was that the Navy’s immediate requirement of heavyweight torpedoes would be met by foreign procurement, while the long-term, larger requirement would be fulfilled through the indigenous manufacturing route.

However, the deal got cancelled in 2016, and a new proposal was initiated.

Sources said the Services are to decide if there is an alternate project available, adding that the torpedoes will most likely be procured from abroad since there is no functional indigenous alternative as of now.

Another key procurement under review is of Kamov helicopters, which is most likely to be shelved in favour of the indigenous product manufactured by state-run Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL).

This is going to be big in terms of monetary value as the cumulative figure of this deal (including Army and Navy requirements) is over Rs 20,000 crore, sources said.

As reported earlier by ThePrint, this renewed focus by the defence ministry could have a ripple effect on the Navy’s plan to acquire new utility helicopters through strategic partnership as HAL may also enter the fray. The programme otherwise was to be a collaboration between a foreign player and an Indian private firm.

Other deals under review this week include procurement of general-purpose machine guns, expendable aerial and anti-submarine warfare targets, etc.
 

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India to Push Back on $1 Billion Russian Helicopter Deal
  • Instead, there might be off-the-shelf purchases of some of the Ka-226T military choppers as the Indian Air Force needs to make immediate replacements to its fleet of over 320 aging helicopters.

India won’t go ahead with building Russian helicopters locally under a $1 billion deal when President Vladimir Putin visits New Delhi next week, according to senior government officials with knowledge of the matter, complicating plans to modernize the world’s third largest military force.

Instead, there might be off-the-shelf purchases of some of the Ka-226T military choppers as the Indian Air Force needs to make immediate replacements to its fleet of over 320 aging helicopters. The military is currently fortifying its western and northern borders as tensions with China fester.

India initially inked the deal in 2015 with the Russians for 200 of the Kamov twin-engine utility helicopters. Of this, 60 choppers were to be imported and the remaining would be manufactured locally under a venture between the Bengaluru defense public sector unit, Hindustan Aeronautics Limited and Russian Helicopters.

However, the Kamov project had very few backers within a government that was keen on boosting the local defense manufacturing under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s “Make-in India" initiative, one of the senior officials said. Also, helicopters with coaxial rotors like the Kamov are costlier to maintain in comparison to the traditional ones, the official said.

India’s earlier talks with the Russians on using more locally-manufactured parts were inconclusive and HAL had since developed a light utility helicopter similar to the Kamov, the officials said, asking not to be named citing rules for speaking to the media.

New Delhi has gone ahead with ordering 12 helicopters from HAL. These choppers have cleared most of the field tests and will come under a limited series production, the officials said, just as the Karnataka-based manufacturing plant gets online.

HAL and India’s Ministry of Defence didn’t immediately comment. Russia’s state arms-export agency declined to comment immediately on possible deals ahead of the summit

Over 70% of India’s military helicopters are three decades old with the rest in service for almost 50 years, often requiring refitting and maintenance. The Indian army is now making do with just three-quarters of the fleet for reconnaissance and observation, a senior military officer said on the condition of anonymity.

The latest accident involving these choppers was in September when a Cheetah helicopter crashed in Jammu and Kashmir, killing two pilots. In the last decade, as many as 19 personnel have died in such incidents.

The bulk of these light utility helicopters are used also for casualty evacuations, ferrying men and hardware to the Himalayas. Most have to be decommissioned from 2023.
 

Blademaster

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I think India should make a big media news of canceling the Ka-220 deal as a sop to the western powers and say, "See look what we did for you!!!! So STFU and get me what I want, bitch!" and at the same time order enough LUHs to make up the shortfall and everyone goes home happy except the Russians who really don't care and are probably too busy restocking its helicopter fleet after the losses in the Ukrainian conflict.
 

Flying Dagger

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I think India should make a big media news of canceling the Ka-220 deal as a sop to the western powers and say, "See look what we did for you!!!! So STFU and get me what I want, bitch!" and at the same time order enough LUHs to make up the shortfall and everyone goes home happy except the Russians who really don't care and are probably too busy restocking its helicopter fleet after the losses in the Ukrainian conflict.
I agree if deal to make them here isn't going anywhere cancel it.... We need full spare supply and manufacturing here in India with rotor blade tech full TOT.

If that doesn't come HAL should workout with panther like light helicopter suitable for both army and navy.
 

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