Boeing bullish on Chinook for Indian heavy lift tender

[sancho]

I swear every time this heavy lift helo competition comes up this argument and defeinatly this pic is used to claim Mi-26 supremacy over the Chinook!


It is not only the fact that the Mi-26 fleet remains grounded most of the time but that it is a question of utility.The Mi-26 can lift more but it is a lumbering giant with no place anywhere near the frontline whereas the CH-47F offers the ability to lift relativley heavy loads and deliver them anywhere you like. The versatility and usability of the Chinook is outstanding- the Mi-26, not so much. It is a similar argumet to the An-124 vs C-17 argument and we all know what the IAF decided was best for their needs! The Mi-26 is great for rear-logisitcal support but beyond that it is pretty ineffective.

Similarly, you are still stating the same wrong points based on Boeings PR and use of Chinook in other forces, by contradicting yourself!

C17 procurement was not a competition of transport aircrafts, it was procured only because it's tactical advantages of taking of and landing on short, unpaved airstrips and the capability to carry even an MBT. Because these are the only advantages that sets it apart from other transport aircrafts.
This helicopter competition on the other side is clearly for the heavy lift role, without any tactical meanings that Boeing or you want to see! IAF uses the Mi 8 and 17s in the tactical roles, be it for troop transport or utility roles at high altitudes like at the Siachen Glacier, these helicopters are used and proven for years and that's why we are procuring more of them in high numbers.
The Chinooks, if selected, would replace older Mi 26 in the heavy lift role and as often explained before, IAF really did some heavy lifts with them be it in peace or war times, or in disaster relief roles. So it is more important how good the Chinooks could be used in these roles, than like Boeing advertise with placing troops at mountain tops.

If the Chinook wins the competition, then mainly because of it's reliability, the secured spare supply and because Russian couldn't convince us that they have improved in this field. But when they can convince us and it's just about the best heavy lift performance, with the most advantages for IAF in this field, the Mi 26 wins hands down!

And as I told you before too, IF IAF wanted such new helicopters for tactical roles, they would replace older Mi 8s with Chinooks and not Mi 26, just like they would not compare Chinooks with Mi 26, but with V22 and Mi 17s.