Indian Air Force chopper fleet to fly high with 300 new machines

[Veeru]

Indian Air Force chopper fleet to fly high with 300 new machines

NEW DELHI: The Indian Air Force (IAF) helicopter fleet is all set to get a boost during the next nine years with plans for inducting 300 attack, transport and observation choppers in advanced stages of implementation in deals worth $5.5 billion.

Among the new choppers to be inducted will be 12 VVIP transports, 22 attack, 15 heavy-lift, 130 medium-lift and 120 light utility helicopters of varying types, sizes and capabilities.

The deals for most of these helicopters are expected to be signed during fiscal 2011-12, with the acquisitions being completed before 2020, a senior IAF officer told IANS. The officer, because of service rules, did not wish to be identified.

Among the first procurements will be the 12 VVIP transport helicopters for the Palam-based Communication Squadron. India had signed an $800 million (Rs.37 billion) deal with British-Italian helicopter manufacturer AgustaWestland for its AW-101 platform in March 2010.

The three-engined AW-101s, which will provide safe, secure, comfortable and stylish domestic journeys for the president, the prime minister and other senior political leaders, are scheduled for delivery in late 2013. The AW-101s will replace the existing VVIP fleet of aging Soviet era Mi-17s.

The IAF will also induct 80 Mi-17-IV over the next couple of years to augment it medium-lift capability of the existing Mi-8 and Mi-17 fleet. It is also in the final stages of deciding on 50 additional Mi-17s over and above the 80 it ordered in 2008 for $1.3 billion.

To augment its existing two squadrons of 30 Mi-25 and Mi-35 attack choppers, the IAF is on the verge of concluding a $500 million contract for 22 combat helicopters, for which US aerospace major Boeing's AH-64 Apache and Russian Mil's Mi-28 are in contention.

The flight and weapons trials of the two competing helicopters were completed in February and the evaluation reports are awaited to begin cost negotiations with the chosen firm.

The IAF is also testing two platforms, again from Boeing and Mil, to meet its need for 15 heavy-lift helicopters to replace the four Mi-26s - said to be the world's heaviest military chopper - India bought from the erstwhile Soviet Union in the late 1980s. Boeing has fielded its CH-47 Chinook and Mil has offered an upgraded Mi-26 for the IAF tender, estimated to be worth $2 billion.

To replace its ageing 1970s vintage fleet of 75 Cheetahs and Chetaks, the IAF is in the process of procuring 64 new light utility helicopters (LUH) along with the army's need for 133 machines.

While the first LUH tender was issued in 2003, it had to be cancelled in December 2007 after discrepancies were found in the helicopter that the chosen European firm, Eurocopter, had fielded for the trials.

The tender for 197 LUHs (64 for the IAF and 133 for the army) was reissued in July 2008, for which Eurocopter's AS550-C3 Fennec and Russian manufacturer Kamov's Ka-226 are in the race. The IAF element of this deal is worth $960 million.

The total LUH requirement of the two forces is said to be 384. Since defence public sector undertaking Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) has said it can deliver an indigenous LUH, the defence ministry in July 2008 gave it the responsibility of supplying 187 machines, though the immediate requirements of the IAF and the army will be met by the tender for the 197 LUHs.

The IAF currently operates 300 helicopters of various types, 100 of which will be phased out by the end of this decade as the 300 new choppers start arriving.

IAF chopper fleet to fly high with 300 new machines - The Economic Times

 

[ptltejas]

sabhi logoko request hai ki in hlicopters ki taswir rakhiye.

 

[sudhir007]

sabhi logoko request hai ki in hlicopters ki taswir rakhiye.

In this thread he is talking so many helicopter like...(Mi-17, Mi-26, Ka-226, Eurocopter's AS550-C3, CH-47, AW-101, Mi-28n & AH-64) which one you want to see...............

 

[shaktiman2010]

More import scandals(import now or pakistan will attack!!), keeping Indians away from its real potential.

If 10% of that much money is invested domestically, India will become superpower in Attack Helicopter R&D AND production.

But then who will fund corrupt in MoD and politicial parties?

The truth is, if 5% of MRCA tender money is spent domestically(and let Mahindra/TATA join as mini-JV partners), HAL can open an extra LCA production line and triple up LCA production from 8 to 24 per year. But this simple common sense is "surprisingly" not present amongst Indian leaders/planner/import-agents.

Also the main reason behind LCA's delays are lack of "merit" culture in Indian PSU sector. It is totally scandulous that foreigners are allowed to have 49% partnership in Defence R&D with PSU but our own Indian companies/Indians can't.

So, the vision of Indian Congress is clear - keep filling Sonia's and her family's bank accounts abroad and keep Indian talent out of competition. Pull in foreigners in all strategic R&D sectors/areas, but "Indians, you please stay out of it. We can't afford giving you chance to grow and prove yourself, because we know you will".

For me, Indian leadership is no better than Pakistani politicians. We are fu*king ourselves. The recent CWG scam, 2G scam and PJ Thomas(supreme court decision today) are enough to shame this banana country. SC even said that was PM sleeping when such tainted guy was appointed CVC(Cental vigilance commision, who job is to catch corruption! LOL). Such appointments are done with consent of PM(and poll advisors in Congress party).

It looks like MMS didn't expect SC to be so fast and on track in this case. It seems SC judge refused the packet from Sonia G. Kudos to him!

 

[saumyasupratik]

How many Dhruv's to inducted by Army Aviation Corps exactly?

 

[shaktiman2010]

One of Ex-MoD officer has said in public, that there is a big lobby within India who has kept Indians away from getting into Defence R&D and they are keeping whole money into PSU's(DRDO, HAL, NAL) only because this lobby knows they are not threats & won't succeed on time ever to threaten the imports.

Remember how TATA succeeded in Pinaka's R&D and brought it to production within just 2 years?

After that, no new system R&D contract was every given to TATA's. Also, already existing contract for EW system was withdrawn from them and transferred to PSU's foreign partner(Israeli firm). End of story.

TATA succeeded in Pinaka project around 7 years back. At that time, TATA asked Indian govt. to award them some new artilerry R&D contracts for 5 years.

If Indian Government would had awarded them to make artillery guns, we wouldn't even require Howtizers imports today!

The fact is, AMCA is a hoghwash to fool Indian public. Even if it succeeded, it will never happen on time(because no Indian private partners are allowed in Core R&D areas related to it, but foreigners are welcome(who never share core R&D).

And, this import lobby also knows that IIT-ians and such top cream of Indian talent will never join PSU(DRDO, HAL, NAL) so they are assured that as far as they keep Indian private players(TATA, Mahindra etc) out of Core R&D part of AMCA, LCA, they can happily go ahead with plans of MRCA, Howitzers and etc. in future.

And, unfortunately, they have like-minded partners in Army, Airforce who may or may not be corrupt but are blind enough to support this vicious trend which is taking India into a big hell, from where it can't return once it's too late to bridge the technology gap between India and foreign weapon sellers.

Mark my words - India will gain nothing of Core R&D from MRCA or any other import contracts. Keep dreaming. FGFA might actually bring "some" advance knowledge of 5th Generation aircraft making to PSU's but that advantage will be lost in PSU itself because they are incapable of growing fast.

 

[Whiplash]

i'm assuming the 130 utility choppers are part of the 197 deal? In that case shouldn't it be 130 army and only around 64 IAF? And as usual, nobody ever adds the 100s of indigenous choppers that are gonna be inducted. Many of which (Like the dhruv, LCH) before these foreign makes.

 

[Whiplash]

How many Dhruv's to inducted by Army Aviation Corps exactly?

As of 2009 74 Dhruvs (Out of 96 built) had been produced TOTALLY for the armed forces. (Army, navy, AF, CRPF and BSF) with atleast 159 on order(+ about a few dozen other orders) . I do not know the current exact numbers.

 

[shaktiman2010]

As of 2009 74 Dhruvs (Out of 96 built) had been produced TOTALLY for the armed forces. (Army, navy, AF, CRPF and BSF) with atleast 159 on order(+ about a few dozen other orders) . I do not know the current exact numbers.

It is obvious. Production lines and spares of HAL are running low on strength and there is no money to setup additional production lines, to speed up procurements.

No wonder, there is no money for extra ALH, LCA production lines and augmentation but there is always money for over-expensive imports including faulty gunsights of T-90 which ate up 100's million $, which is more than total cost of one ALH production line.

 

[shaktiman2010]

Indians have a mentality of closing their eyes and chanting "All is ok. Just relax." Exact same mentality which made them slaves in past.

We still have such morons in this country, in majority. Others who raise right questions are termed as "alarmists" and paranoids.

Wait 10 years, AMCA will be nowhere near success and there will be another MRCA+ tender, thanks to MoD's decision of not founding JV with Indian private players for LCA production lines and getting upto speed.

LCA project has no new secret technology or national secret which Boeing hasn't given to Pakistan. So, there is no logic why Indian private firms are banned from joining HAL in production. It only benefits import lobby and foreign companies, who are allowed to form JV with PSU's.

 

[angeldemon_007]

How many Dhruv's to inducted by Army Aviation Corps exactly?

159 on order. 5 of them already delivered during aero india and the production of this order is supposed to be completed by 2015 unless HAL is also producing Dhruv for some other customer like IAF, CRPF, BSF, IN, ICG etc. which i think they are. Also many of these Dhruvs will be the attack version and the development of that version is going on at a very fast pace as army is paying for the development cost also.

i'm assuming the 130 utility choppers are part of the 197 deal? In that case shouldn't it be 130 army and only around 64 IAF? And as usual, nobody ever adds the 100s of indigenous choppers that are gonna be inducted. Many of which (Like the dhruv, LCH) before these foreign makes.

The number of helicopters that are confirmed to be inducted in Army aviation are :
159 = Dhruvs
114 = LCH
133 = Light helicopters (this is from 197 choppers deal)
126 = LUH (Out of 187 LUH to be build by HAL)
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Total = 532 choppers

I have not included the 139 Mi17 choppers as i don't know out of this how many are for IAF and how many for IA?/ Can any bodu share with us this piece of information.
Also i have not included IMRH whose number can varied from 400 to 1100 according to the reports but wee still don't know how many will be bought by IA. Actually the IMRH project is only on the paper right now. HAL has asked MOD whether to go solo or chose a partner for this project.

 

[Whiplash]

159 on order. 5 of them already delivered during aero india and the production of this order is supposed to be completed by 2015 unless HAL is also producing Dhruv for some other customer like IAF, CRPF, BSF, IN, ICG etc. which i think they are. Also many of these Dhruvs will be the attack version and the development of that version is going on at a very fast pace as army is paying for the development cost also.


The number of helicopters that are confirmed to be inducted in Army aviation are :
159 = Dhruvs
114 = LCH
133 = Light helicopters (this is from 197 choppers deal)
126 = LUH (Out of 187 LUH to be build by HAL)
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Total = 532 choppers

I have not included the 139 Mi17 choppers as i don't know out of this how many are for IAF and how many for IA?/ Can any bodu share with us this piece of information.
Also i have not included IMRH whose number can varied from 400 to 1100 according to the reports but wee still don't know how many will be bought by IA. Actually the IMRH project is only on the paper right now. HAL has asked MOD whether to go solo or chose a partner for this project.

Negative. 5 MORE were deliverd to the army. Army aviation already had about 40 odd dhruvs. And of the further 159 on order 8 are BSF and a few are CRPF too. I last read IAF is not interested in inducting beyond its current 35 odd dhruvs. Which is very sensible considering IAF is not in need of these small troop carriers. T

 

[misterme2]

Thanks finally good to hear an Indian who is concerned as much as me. Just look at China with their WS attack chopper.....they are planning to induct 2,000. Meanwhile, India is taking years to induct 200-300. The problem is like the US stated about HAL's capabilities. If they made it clear that HAL doesn't seem to have the capability to absorb such tech and produce more lines leading to more capacity then something is wrong. Very wrong. Creating a product is difficult enough but when you cannot produce the required number of assembly lines to produce more weapons platforms then there is a possibility of this being done on purpose to slow down production to increase the bottom line....Corruption. What happens is these lines bottleneck and weapon platforms are slowly produced leading to inefficient numbers leading to more purchases from foreign vendors and such. Is HAL private or public? This is such a correctable problem that has existed for 3 decades. They haven't realized this and solved the issue yet? China thrives on the ability to produce in huge numbers quickly and efficiently. India better step it up, or you lose again. Your choice.


Remember this I told Shiv Menon that China was a threat. He angry got into my face and asked why? I said please I am not trying to upset you, I only want to help India but whatever pro active steps India takes it is countered by CHina's support to Pakistan. He walked away hands in pocket. Now 10 yrs later China is a threat. Damn fools. Start a "Jasmine Revolution and demand more accountability from everyone, it is time India, it is time India to wake up, stop eating ladoos and ghee enriched foods and take a brisk walk and scream a lil, its called protest. Teach your kids what Gandhiji taught the world, demand action for inaction thru nonviolent means, let your voices be heard.