Indian Coast Guard Set To Get EC725 cougar helicopter

abingdonboy

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JUST IN: Indian MoD clears path for acquisition of 14 twin-engine heavy helicopters (TEHH) for the
@IndiaCoastGuard
. The
@AirbusHeli
H225M is reported to be ahead in a two-horse race against the
@Sikorsky
S-92.
So after it was being reported this was going to be scrapped this ?


But this seems back to square one, they haven’t even selected a type yet. Easily another 5-7 years before they even take delivery of the first unit.
 

shankyz

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How are these things mutually exclusive?


Navy has nothing to do with ICG requirements. ICG needs these for long range SAR and this is no joke, India has a MASSIVE SAR area of responsibility that it just isn’t able to take care of today- a frankly criminal oversight.


FYI if ICG doesn’t get these helos guess where they will have to be taken from to cover this requirement- the already depleted Navy’s airwing.
Navy and ICG requirements go hand in hand, see the C295 procurement for example , 56 for Navy + 6 for ICG. Same goes for Dornier procurement as well.

IN aerial assets should be replaced first, and older IN assets handed over to ICG for SAR, Recon.
 

abingdonboy

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Navy and ICG requirements go hand in hand, see the C295 procurement for example , 56 for Navy + 6 for ICG. Same goes for Dornier procurement as well.

IN aerial assets should be replaced first, and older IN assets handed over to ICG for SAR, Recon.
Just becuase they operate common systems from time to time doesn’t mean anything. They have very different responsibilities. Do you even know why the ICG exists?


If you want the navy reduced to a coast guard then fine but if you want an actual navy with offensive capabilities then the ICG needs to be built up.

again, these aren’t mutually exclusive matters, the coast guard hunting for choppers doesn’t effect the navy in the slightest.
 

shankyz

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Just becuase they operate common systems from time to time doesn’t mean anything. They have very different responsibilities. Do you even know why the ICG exists?


If you want the navy reduced to a coast guard then fine but if you want an actual navy with offensive capabilities then the ICG needs to be built up.

again, these aren’t mutually exclusive matters, the coast guard hunting for choppers doesn’t effect the navy in the slightest.
With Govt facing issues in funds for capital procurement, we need to prioritise asset procurement, IN is not the USN with massive financial resources ... yes I very well know the roles of IN & ICG ... only saying IN aerial asset procurement should have higher priority and urgency than ICG aerial assets.
 

abingdonboy

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With Govt facing issues in funds for capital procurement, we need to prioritise asset procurement, IN is not the USN with massive financial resources ... yes I very well know the roles of IN & ICG ... only saying IN aerial asset procurement should have higher priority and urgency than ICG aerial assets.
Why? Navy and ICG are both important.


I’d argue for day to day ops ICG is more important. India has legal international obligations in terms of security and SAR in the IOR, it is failing those today as it doesn’t have long range rotary wing SAR assets with the ICG. Have you seen what they use? Chetaks. Not only can’t these go anywhere near the same distance as the H225M, they don’t have night capability and can at most take 1 stretcher compared to 3-4 for the H225M.


Guess who gets drafted in for more serious SAR ops? navy.

ICG needs to be built up end of story.
 

WolfPack86

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Indian Coast Guard needs helicopters pronto
On 28 November, India’s Defence Acquisition Council, chaired by Minister of Defence Rajnath Singh, reapproved the procurement of 14 shore-based twin-engine heavy helicopters for the Indian Coast Guard (ICG). The tender had been withdrawn last year following nine extensions and a graft case.

The ICG, which termed the requirement as ‘immediate’, will use the 10t helicopters to prevent maritime terrorism, infiltration of terrorists by sea routes, and to conduct SAR operations.

An RfP for an open global tender will be released within 12 months, as stipulated in the Defence Procurement Policy.

The ICG is responsible for safety and security within India’s EEZ along the nation’s 7,500km coastline.

A senior ICG official told Shephard the ageing Chetak (Alouette III) helicopter, now manufactured under license by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), did not have the required range. It is presently being used by the ICG for SAR, casualty evacuation and aircrew training.

The official added that new threats result in fishing boats having to be identified and intercepted beyond 150nm from the coast. The problem became real after the Mumbai terrorist attack in 2008, where the perpetrators had entered Indian territory on a fishing boat.

Likely contenders for the RfP are the Kamov Ka-31 (10 of which were approved in May for the Indian Navy), Airbus Helicopters H225M and Sikorsky S-92.

While OEMs are mandated to sign integrity pacts with each new tender, Leonardo continues to be barred from selling to India. HAL as yet does not have a heavy helicopter in its range.

Interestingly, a senior official told Shephard that if Sikorsky emerged as lowest bidder, it was likely the sale would be done under the US Foreign Military Sales programme.
https://www.shephardmedia.com/news/rotorhub/indian-coast-guard-needs-helicopters-pronto/

 

WolfPack86

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Indian Coast Guard to receive 14 Airbus H225M helicopters: How it fares against Sikorsky S-92
The Indian Ministry of Defence has approved the acquisition of 14 twin-engine heavy helicopters for the Indian Coast Guard. The Airbus H225M, formerly Eurocopter EC725, will join the Indian fleet for enhanced security and increased surveillance on the coastlines, LiveFist revealed in a tweet on Thursday.

Airbus H225M has proven to be a versatile military asset, allowing it to function in icy conditions and operate from ships or even land. With the all-weather capability of the helicopter and night vision goggle compatibility, the H225M can be used in a wide range of military operations, including special ops, combat search and rescue, tactical support and medical evac.

According to Airbus, over 90 aircraft in service have accumulated more than 100,000 flight hours. With this reliable helicopter joining the Indian Coast Guard fleet, here's a quick comparison against Sikorsky S-92.

Operations

Airbus H225M is in operation mostly for military use. The H225M is used by Brazilian Air Force, Army and Navy while France has it for Air Force and Army. Besides, Hungary Defence Forces, Indonesian Air Force, Kazakhstan Air Force, Kuwait Air Force, Royal Malaysian Air Force, Mexican Air Force as well as Navy, Singapore Air Force and Royal Thai Air Force prefer the H225M. India is the latest one to join the fleet.

Model Aibus H225M Sikorsky S-92
Capacity
12,500 lb (5,670 kg) payload equivalent to 28 troops 19 passengers
Max takeoff weight 11,200 kg (24,692 lb) 27,700 lb (12,568 kg)
Powerplant 2 × Turboméca Makila 2A1 turboshaft engines, 1,776 kW (2,382 hp) each 2 × General Electric CT7-8A turboshaft, 2,520 shp (1,879 kW) each
Maximum speed 324 km/h (201 mph, 175 kn) 306 km/h (190 mph, 165 knots)
Cruise speed 285 km/h (177 mph, 154 kn) 280 km/h (174 mph, 151 kn)
Range 920 km (570 mi, 500 nmi) 999 km (539 nmi)
Rotor 5-blade main rotor 4-blade main rotor

On the other hand, the Sikorsky S-92 is used by Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Canada, Ireland, Japan, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, South Korea, Thailand, Turkey, Turkmenistan, the United Kingdom and the US. The S-92 is also widely used for civilian use in countries like the U.S., UK, Qatar, China, Canada, Brazil and others.

The S-92 is more popularly in use around the world. The H225M packs the extra punch when specs are compared, be it in terms of speed, payload and performance. The S-92 has better range than the H225M, but the difference isn't huge.
https://www.ibtimes.co.in/indian-co...ers-how-it-fares-against-sikorsky-s-92-809526

 

WolfPack86

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Indian Coast Guard issues RFI for 30 helicopters
The Indian Coast Guard has issued requests for information (RFI) for 16 ship-borne helicopters and 14 shore-based helicopters.

These would primarily be for search and rescue (SAR) missions, although the service also wants the helicopters to have attack capabilities.

The 16 ship-borne helicopters are for maritime surveillance, SAR and tactical ground attack missions, says the Coast Guard in its tender document.

Each helicopter must have a maximum take-off weight of 6.5t, it adds.

The service wants interested parties to respond to the RFI by 3 June, and says that it is working on a request for proposals.

It has set a 4 June deadline for responses to its RFI for 14 twin-engine shore-based helicopters. Each helicopter must have a MTOW of 12t.

These should also be able to operate from its offshore patrol vessels and advanced offshore vessels with a reduced MTOW of 10t, it adds.

They would be used for maritime patrol, SAR activities and tactical ground attack missions, it adds.

The RFIs require the both types of helicopters to have hard points for gun mounts that can take both 7.62mm and 12.7mm guns. It also wants the shore-based helicopters to be able to integrate 20/30mm cannons.

India's coast guard operates Hindustan Aeronautics Dhruv helicopters and Aérospatiale SA316 Alouette IIIs. It also has Dornier 228 fixed-wing aircraft.
 

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