IDEAS FOR A HELICOPTER INDUSTRY IN PAKISTAN (Discussion)

[jamal18]

Start easy.

Allouette 3 helicopter, buy the licenses/ production rights. Get a bunch of technicians to stretch it to10 seats (from 7),
marry it to a newer engine, perhaps Chinese. Our engineers are familiar with the type. Produce.

Puma helicopter, keep it 20 seat. Ditto.

 

[ziaulislam]

simple:
join Turkish Utility helicopter program

its a fact that we will need 200+ helicopters in near future once the bells, Puma and older mi 17 goes away
we need a helicopter similar to the AW 139(which we already brought 20). I wonder why did we got licence production for it?

 

[Radical101]

I can't believe when in 2014 two politicians from Philippines and One other country in Mi fat belly helicopter crash killed everyone around 12 people when it was transporting them to remote areas in mountain land. Was it due to maintenance or something the crash happened to obsolete Helicopter.

 

[The SC]

South Africa makes these two:

A SAAF Atlas Oryx helicopter

SANAP variant of the Oryx

South African Rooivalk Attack Helicopter

 

[Hassan Guy]

South Africa makes these two:

A SAAF Atlas Oryx helicopter

SANAP variant of the Oryx

South African Rooivalk Attack Helicopter

Would be ideal if Pakistan would develop these with SA.

 

[The SC]

Would be ideal if Pakistan would develop these with SA.

At least the Oryx, since an attack helicopter can be developed with SA, Turkey or China..

 

[Path-Finder]

any thoughts on Z20 or alternatively T70?

 

[DJ_Viper]

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It is important to recognize that the difficulties Pakistan would face in terms of helicopter manufacturing do not prevent it from raising a viable helicopter industry. As with the combat aircraft industry, which is now engaged in at least partial airframe manufacturing, the nucleus of a functional helicopter industry would commence with domestic MRO. Although Pakistan may not build its own helicopters, with a strong domestic MRO infrastructure, it can at least have the opportunity to independently operate its aircraft – i.e. with minimal dependence on foreign vendors.

IMO, Pakistan should've joined the Chinese project in building the Z-9 or Z18 locally. That would've been the cheapest way to setup an internal industry. The transport heli's don't carry sophisticated weapons, so they are much simpler to manufacture. Once there was a labor base built through first assembling and then building these transport helis, Pakistan should've acquire the Z-10, Z-19 or the Turkish heli the same way and start to assemble and build an attack heli internally. The attack heli could initially be the low-tier one. But imagine the level of knowledge, tech and labor it would create inside Pakistan. And just like the JF-17, the next batch of these helis could be mid-tier.
Also, imagine the transport heli project also becoming a backbone of a commercial heli industry that would then come up with various options like for businessmen, hospitals, police, emergency services, and of-course, the military.

 

[tarrar]

In recent development with South Africa, SA is a good option. Where as the other options isTurkey who is now having authorisation to produce Blackhawks & then the other best option is China. They can help Pakistan helicopter industry to develop. If I am not wrong Romania wanted to enhance defence ties with Pakistan, Romania too can be helpful.

It is very important for Pakistan to attempt to install maintenance facilities in Pakistan for those helicopters which Pakistan is using.

 

[Zarvan]

Pakistan needs to start helicopter production in Pakistan and as start we should start with producing one transport and one attack helicopter and also maintenance and over haul facility for all kind of helicopters in use of our Armed Forces.

 

[Radical101]

Pakistan needs to R & D on all aspects of developing a home grown product (just as Jf-17). But not follow in horrific footsteps of how India attempted to make Hal Dhruv failure helicopters in helicopters industry as quick fix, and getting bad reputation at the same time after Hal Tejas and Hal Dhruv similarly.

 

[niaz]

I have been in Allouette III a couple of times landing on off-shore crude pumping platforms in Nigeria and Indonesia. Also landed on a VLCC oil tanker once in the same type. It is very small inside and even though it is supposed to have 5 passenger seats, we were 4 passengers and it was a tight squeeze. Can’t see how it can be stretched to accommodate additional 3 seats. It would need a lot bigger power plant. Understand Romanians tried to convert it into a light gunship but the result was not successful.

Undoubtedly SA316 (Allouette III) is a good utility helicopter, but remember that SA 316A was first introduced in 1960. Must we go for a 50 year old design? If we must, why don’t we try manufacturing a newer light helicopter such as Fennec e/Ecureuil AS355 or Eurocopter 365 instead?

If we would like to stick with AS 316, understand there are plenty of refurbished Allouette IIIs available in the market for as low as $350K per unit.

 

[jamal18]

I have been in Allouette III a couple of times landing on off-shore crude pumping platforms in Nigeria and Indonesia. Also landed on a VLCC oil tanker once in the same type. It is very small inside and even though it is supposed to have 5 passenger seats, we were 4 passengers and it was a tight squeeze. Can’t see how it can be stretched to accommodate additional 3 seats. It would need a lot bigger power plant. Understand Romanians tried to convert it into a light gunship but the result was not successful.

Undoubtedly SA316 (Allouette III) is a good utility helicopter, but remember that SA 316A was first introduced in 1960. Must we go for a 50 year old design? If we must, why don’t we try manufacturing a newer light helicopter such as Fennec e/Ecureuil AS355 or Eurocopter 365 instead?

If we would like to stick with AS 316, understand there are plenty of refurbished Allouette IIIs available in the market for as low as $350K per unit.

I appreciate the feedback.
Are you sure you weren't on the allouette 2? Either way the pakistan military were happy with both.
Producing both types will be cheap and something that can be done immediately. They will be a stepping stone to both design and production of better models in country.
I am of course talking of improved models.

Incidentally the C130, the P3 and not to mention the T55 are all more than 50 years old, but they or their derivatives soldier on.

 

[AZADPAKISTAN2009]

z-10/ T-129 quite capable platform.

For local TOT project cooperation with South Africa for transport helicopters ideal choice (Puma)

 

[denel]

South Africa makes these two:

A SAAF Atlas Oryx helicopter

SANAP variant of the Oryx

South African Rooivalk Attack Helicopter

This is on puma platform and we continue to evolve it. There is a lot of opportunities here.