Indian Coast Guard Set To Get EC725 cougar helicopter

[aditya g]

The ICG's area of responsibility is vast and they require long range SAR assets, the ALH just doesn't delvier the same performance:
....

There is a reason why tiny nations like Ireland, UK, Greece etc all deploy 12 ton helos for maritime SAR......

For smaller countries like Greece, a medium range helos can ensure coverage from very few air bases, thus bringing cost efficiencies. In India's case, the large coast line and EEZ will benefit from higher quantity rather than large size helos because you cannot deploy the latter from ships

Now it is quite obvious that ALH Dhruv will have lower performance across the board due to lesser weight and power.

You have to see procurements from an evolutionary perspective. At the moment, what does ICG operate? As per wiki:

• 4 HAL Dhruv utility helicopters
• 18 HAL Chetak utility helicopters

Now why do we need to begin with buying 14 cougars? Lets (1) replace the miniscule fleet of 18 Chetaks and 4 old spec Dhruvs with latest new build Dhruvs (2) expand the fleet so that there is high availability of choppers in each station (3) and more stations with choppers available. At that moment perhaps we can look at medium weight helos and (4) deploy Dhruvs off OPVs.

Higher quantity of Dhruvs will help ICG meet its objectives better than a smaller gold plated fleet.

 

[abingdonboy]

For smaller countries like Greece, a medium range helos can ensure coverage from very few air bases, thus bringing cost efficiencies. In India's case, the large coast line and EEZ will benefit from higher quantity rather than large size helos because you cannot deploy the latter from ships

Now it is quite obvious that ALH Dhruv will have lower performance across the board due to lesser weight and power.

You have to see procurements from an evolutionary perspective. At the moment, what does ICG operate? As per wiki:

• 4 HAL Dhruv utility helicopters
• 18 HAL Chetak utility helicopters

Now why do we need to begin with buying 14 cougars? Lets (1) replace the miniscule fleet of 18 Chetaks and 4 old spec Dhruvs with latest new build Dhruvs (2) expand the fleet so that there is high availability of choppers in each station (3) and more stations with choppers available. At that moment perhaps we can look at medium weight helos and (4) deploy Dhruvs off OPVs.

Higher quantity of Dhruvs will help ICG meet its objectives better than a smaller gold plated fleet.

I don't know if you missed the news but the CCS is currently processing a 32 unit order for ALH Mk.3 (16 each for the IN and ICG) so the ICG's airwing will not be 100% EC-725, far from it.

The fact is, to cater to the duties the ICG has there is no one fit solution, whilst the smaller ALH may be suited to generate more sorties close to shore, it is imperitive to have a larger platform with the range and endurance to conduct long range SAR and maritime interdiction missons.In some cases it will be far more economical to have the EC-725 than the ALH, where a mission requires airlifting 15+ people it will make more sense to send 1 EC-725 instead of 2 ALH.

Just like the LCA is not enough to make up 100% of the IAF, the ALH will not make up 100% of the ICG (or IN or IAF or IA) airwing.

Diversity is needed, there is no one fit all solution with matters of this kind, either way the ICG's airwing needs to be expanded 4-5 times to cater to the entire Indian EEZ with a mix of light and medium class helos.

 

[WolfPack86]

EC725 cougar helicopter

 

[WolfPack86]

EC725 cougar helicopter

 

[WolfPack86]

EC725 cougar helicopter

 

[WolfPack86]

EC725 cougar helicopter

 

[WolfPack86]

EC725 cougar helicopter

 

[WolfPack86]

EC725 cougar helicopter

 

[WolfPack86]

Airbus to set up MRO facility for EC725 choppers in Goa
NEW DELHI: European aviation major Airbus has chosen Goa to set up a maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) facility for the EC 725 helicopter, provided it wins the over Rs 2,000 crore Coast Guard contract for which it has pitched.

The facility, close to the Indian Coast Guard's main center of operations, is planned as part of Airbus' offer to equip the Indian Coast Guard with 14 EC725 for its Twin Engine Heavy Helicopter (TEHH) requirement and the foreseeable future needs for a helicopter of this category by the Indian armed forces, industry sources said.

Asked about their plans, Airbus in a statement said, "We cannot comment on the location of the MRO for the EC725 but it is true that such a facility is envisaged as part of our offer to supply 14 EC725 to the Indian Coast Guard. All 14 EC725 will be integrated and flight-tested at this site."

The Coast Guard had first raised the requirement post 26/11 which exposed the loopholes in its surveillance and interception capabilities.

The force currently uses ageing Chetaks as well as indigenous Advanced Light Choppers (ALH) for patrolling, search and rescue and casualty evacuation.

The competition is between the EC725 and the now part of Lockheed Martin, Sikorsky's S 92 chopper.

Sources said the MRO will enable a comprehensive Performance-Based Logistic (PBL) support service that Airbus is offering to the Indian Coast Guard to ensure maximum fleet availability of its EC 725.

The PBL service covers the complete aircraft - 'nose to tail' - including the Safran engines.

While Goa will serve as the main location, infrastructure will be created and maintained at four other Coast Guard bases across India to deliver the service, the sources said.

The MRO activities would include the scheduled and unscheduled maintenance activities which come within the ambit of intermediate and depot-level maintenance also known as 2nd and 3rd/4th level of maintenance.

Sources said the green field facility would pave the way for an inflow of new military helicopter maintenance technologies and skill sets in addition to the creation of expert jobs in India.

This would happen via transfer of engineering work, technical knowhow, training and setting-up of a logistics support and warehousing system by Airbus Helicopters in India.

Over 140 EC725 (now marketed globally as the H225M) have been ordered so far by France, Brazil, Mexico, Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, Kuwait, and Singapore. 80 aircraft are currently in service.
http://economictimes.indiatimes.com...c725-choppers-in-goa/articleshow/56875454.cms

 

[aditya g]

Drop this deal. Go for ALH dhruv in interim and wait for winner of Indian Navy mrh tender

Airbus to set up MRO facility for EC725 choppers in Goa
NEW DELHI: European aviation major Airbus has chosen Goa to set up a maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) facility for the EC 725 helicopter, provided it wins the over Rs 2,000 crore Coast Guard contract for which it has pitched.

The facility, close to the Indian Coast Guard's main center of operations, is planned as part of Airbus' offer to equip the Indian Coast Guard with 14 EC725 for its Twin Engine Heavy Helicopter (TEHH) requirement and the foreseeable future needs for a helicopter of this category by the Indian armed forces, industry sources said.

Asked about their plans, Airbus in a statement said, "We cannot comment on the location of the MRO for the EC725 but it is true that such a facility is envisaged as part of our offer to supply 14 EC725 to the Indian Coast Guard. All 14 EC725 will be integrated and flight-tested at this site."

The Coast Guard had first raised the requirement post 26/11 which exposed the loopholes in its surveillance and interception capabilities.

The force currently uses ageing Chetaks as well as indigenous Advanced Light Choppers (ALH) for patrolling, search and rescue and casualty evacuation.

The competition is between the EC725 and the now part of Lockheed Martin, Sikorsky's S 92 chopper.

Sources said the MRO will enable a comprehensive Performance-Based Logistic (PBL) support service that Airbus is offering to the Indian Coast Guard to ensure maximum fleet availability of its EC 725.

The PBL service covers the complete aircraft - 'nose to tail' - including the Safran engines.

While Goa will serve as the main location, infrastructure will be created and maintained at four other Coast Guard bases across India to deliver the service, the sources said.

The MRO activities would include the scheduled and unscheduled maintenance activities which come within the ambit of intermediate and depot-level maintenance also known as 2nd and 3rd/4th level of maintenance.

Sources said the green field facility would pave the way for an inflow of new military helicopter maintenance technologies and skill sets in addition to the creation of expert jobs in India.

This would happen via transfer of engineering work, technical knowhow, training and setting-up of a logistics support and warehousing system by Airbus Helicopters in India.

Over 140 EC725 (now marketed globally as the H225M) have been ordered so far by France, Brazil, Mexico, Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, Kuwait, and Singapore. 80 aircraft are currently in service.
http://economictimes.indiatimes.com...c725-choppers-in-goa/articleshow/56875454.cms

 

[sthf]

Drop this deal. Go for ALH dhruv in interim and wait for winner of Indian Navy mrh tender

As of this moment, there is no such thing as MRH or IMRH. Sooner we mass produce a medium heptre, the better.

One of the very few things on we can edge out Chinis are heptres. Let's not lose that advantage because we're still waiting for a desi alternative.

 

[abingdonboy]

Drop this deal. Go for ALH dhruv in interim and wait for winner of Indian Navy mrh tender

The ICG has needed these helos for over a decade, the ALH is a 5.5 ton helo, the EC725 a 12 ton helo you cannot compare them and the IMRH is entirely fictional as of now, it won't be ready before 2027, are you saying the ICG should have to wait 20 years for their requirements to be met?

 

[SilentKiller]

Drop this deal. Go for ALH dhruv in interim and wait for winner of Indian Navy mrh tender

We have already ordered 16 ALH for coast guards, ALH is different class than EC725

 

[aditya g]

Yes I think it's worth for the ICG to wait. In mean time let them have as many ALH as they want. By MRH I meant navy's selected make in India medium heptr And not a new HAL design.

The ICG has needed these helos for over a decade, the ALH is a 5.5 ton helo, the EC725 a 12 ton helo you cannot compare them and the IMRH is entirely fictional as of now, it won't be ready before 2027, are you saying the ICG should have to wait 20 years for their requirements to be met?

 

[abingdonboy]

Yes I think it's worth for the ICG to wait. In mean time let them have as many ALH as they want.

But they aren't even in the same class so no ammount of ALH are going to make up for the EC-725, the ALH will have a pretty limited range for shore based SAR, the EC-725 will give the ICG great reach to fulfil their mandate of providing SAR within the Indian EEZ as well as giving the ICG an aerial platform with great range to conduct monitering from te air.

By MRH I meant navy's selected make in India medium heptr And not a new HAL design.

Fair enough but in case you didn't know the IN will probably select the EC-725 also for their NMRH role and it will be made in India. This is even more likely if the ICG gets this bird.

 

[Gessler]

I think another case of 'indigenous fever' is clouding people's vision here.

 

[sthf]

I think another case of 'indigenous fever' is clouding people's vision here.

Let's massage our ego, operational requirements be damned.

 

[Horushmar.]

Who needs the EC-725 the coast guard can get the TEJAS.
:hippo:

 

[Gessler]

Who needs the EC-725 the coast guard can get the TEJAS.
:hippo:

Even the Indian Railways need to buy the Tejas to fly ahead and look for missing train tracks.

 

[Kunal Biswas]

I don`t think its anything to do with any fever / ego but logic, One talks about diversity and other talk about availability and sortie rate ..

Its best stick with ongoing topic rather giving it a different path, Further diversions will be taken down ..

I think another case of 'indigenous fever' is clouding people's vision here.

Let's massage our ego, operational requirements be damned.

Who needs the EC-725 the coast guard can get the TEJAS.
:hippo:

Even the Indian Railways need to buy the Tejas to fly ahead and look for missing train tracks.