Defence Ministry issues RFI for LUH Class helicopters

[TimeTraveller]

The Defence Ministry has issued a Request for Information (RFI) to
domestic manufacturers for reconnaissance and surveillance helicopters
for the Army Aviation Corps (AAC) and the Indian Air Force (IAF).

The RFI states that “The Indian Army and Indian Air Force are holding
Chetak and Cheetah helicopters. The Ministry of Defence intends to
urgently replace the fleet of existing Cheetah and Chetak helicopters
with suitable helicopters of modern design (hereinafter called
Reconnaissance & Surveillance/ RSH Helicopters).”

This follows the decision by Defence Minister Arun Jaitley in August to
scrap the deal for 197 helicopters and go for a fresh contract under the
‘Make and Buy’ category of the Defence Procurement Procedure (DPP). This
is the third time the RFI has been reissued for the Light Utility
Helicopters (LUH). The RFI, issued on October 31, has sought responses
from interested Indian vendors by November 11.

The contract is open for both single and twin engine variants. The RFI
has not stated the number of helicopters which the government intends to
procure.

It said: “This Request for Information (RFI) is being issued with the
aim of identifying probable Indian vendors (including an Indian company
forming joint venture/establishing production arrangement with OEM) who
can provide the helicopters followed by licensed production/indigenous
manufacture in the country.” The initial batch of helicopters will come
in flyaway condition from the OEM, while the remaining will be built in
India by an Indian partner through transfer of technology.

This approach is in line with the Modi government’s policy of
indigenously developing military hardware and reduce dependency on imports.

Source : Defence Ministry issues RFI for LUH Class helicopters | idrw.org

 

[sathya]

I thought HAL LUH will bag the tender without competition

Now there is risk for HAL to loose even the promised deal too..


Is it going to be all or none ?

 

[sancho]

I thought HAL LUH will bag the tender without competition

Now there is risk for HAL to loose even the promised deal too..


Is it going to be all or none ?

No, the media only confused it to be diverted to the procurement of an Indian helicopter, when the aim however is only to manufacture and helicopter in India. That's what the made in India policy is about, focus on manufacturing and not necessarily development in India.
The RFI is also confusing people more, with the nonsens about "Indian vendors", althout it also says:

including an Indian company
forming joint venture/establishing production arrangement with OEM

So all they are looking for, is a Indian company that teams up with a foreign vendor and produces their helicopter in India.

 

[sathya]

Only when the deal is finalized we ll know what it is..

What the heck use of make in India ' if it doesn't support ' develop in India ' ...
India was license manufacturing weapons already , who needs new name for it ?

HAL is almost ready with LUH..

Better HAL outsource LUH to private company which are closer to BJP ..

 

[Hareeshu IA MBT]

Hal already over stretched . Its makes sense to opt for private player . But am not confirm about HAL's share Even if it's 100% private it's a very good move . But HAL will provided with some orders I guess. Its even better as 2 supply lines will be operated which means faster delivery to tge users . And may be we can export indigenous if we develop one . As per HAL source itself

 

[ashish1]

I thought HAL LUH will bag the tender without competition

Now there is risk for HAL to loose even the promised deal too..


Is it going to be all or none ?

Only when the deal is finalized we ll know what it is..

What the heck use of make in India ' if it doesn't support ' develop in India ' ...
India was license manufacturing weapons already , who needs new name for it ?

HAL is almost ready with LUH..

Better HAL outsource LUH to private company which are closer to BJP ..

Relax,
Army needs about 400 helicopters.200 will be LUH and another 200 will be foreign helicopters which army will chose and the article is talking about rest of 200.This has already been comformed.
So in no way this will affect orders of LUH.