Indian Light Reconnaissance and Surveillance Helicopters (RSH) Contest Begins

[Abingdonboy]

Well, level playing field, let HAL compete and win a for the entire LUH deal. If it passes the technical evaluations provides and good business case, then It would be a good development as it will ease supply chain, commonality in paltforms, lower subsystem costs along with easier retrofits maintenance and simplified logistics.

The entire premise of LCA, ALH like systems, were to build a viable aerospace ecosystems for Indian forces. If the technology gained in ALH can be spinned into LUH, WSO, and LCH then it is a big big success for Indian DPSU's

Valid points sir, however the reason the LUH requirement was split in the first place were the reasons I have outlined above (ensure a tried, tested and proven machine to enter into the forces ASAP and provide a private local partner the opportunity to get into this sector) so HAL taking part in this makes a mockery of the entire thing. Additionally I am quite concerned about the timelines HAL are promising- the first flight of the LUH will be late this year (2015) and the earliest one can expect the bird to get FOC is 2019 so the earliest it can start entering service and retiring the ancient Cheetaks and Cheetahs will be around 2021/22- 6/7 years away!

Going the foreign route the first units can be in service within 5 years (2 years fro trails/evaluations and 3 for first delivery). I am of the mind that the birds these new generation of LUHs are replacing (Cheetak and Cheetah) need to be replaced ASAP, some will be 50 years old by 2020 and they are already taking the lives of aircrews this is a situation that cannot be allowed to continue. A foreign LUH would be a proven quantity, the HAL LUH is yet to have even a engine ground run and there is a LOT that could go wrong with it and delay the project and thus push back the induction date.

My view is let HAL get on with their LUH which will be of great utility to India in the long run but to negate the potential risks associated with this the foreign LUH purchase is a must and that it will allow for setting up an entirely separate production line in India operated by a private player in India and will come with ToT for that entity allowing for a huge amount of benefits for Indian industry in the long term also. This seems like a win win scenario.

 

[The_Sidewinder]

India built the best missile in the world, Brahmos.

Robin Lawey Fat & Ugly.

I hope this competition will not run into red tapism & delays again. What a shame. A winner should have declared by now. Instead we are restarting the competition for the 3rd time.

 

[Ankit Kumar 001]

@Abingdonboy @NKVD @Echo_419

Hi
Everybody ,I prepared this small comparison between the 4 helicopters . And I think we should go for Ka226T as
1.It has the highest service ceiling of 6200 meters. It could be very helpful in Siachen and other high outposts.
2.It has two engines that means even if by chance one engine fails in the mountains, it can still keep the men safe.
3 . It has typical twin coaxial rotors with no tail rotor which means it can take of and land in relatively small place. This feature becomes important as it would keep up the safety while operating from small helipads in the mountains.
4. It can take the maximum number of people apart from the pilot I.e. 9.
5.It can take maximum load of 1500 kg slinging or 1400 kg inside it.
6. It has a detachable cabin which can be converted into transport cabin, mobile ambulance or troop transport.

Disadvantages
1.It has relatively less top speed.
2.It cannot be converted into a gunship.

I stand to be corrected as I am no expert.
Good morning
Cheers
Thanks

 

[Echo_419]

@Abingdonboy @NKVD @Echo_419

Hi
Everybody ,I prepared this small comparison between the 4 helicopters . And I think we should go for Ka226T as
1.It has the highest service ceiling of 6200 meters. It could be very helpful in Siachen and other high outposts.
2.It has two engines that means even if by chance one engine fails in the mountains, it can still keep the men safe.
3 . It has typical twin coaxial rotors with no tail rotor which means it can take of and land in relatively small place. This feature becomes important as it would keep up the safety while operating from small helipads in the mountains.
4. It can take the maximum number of people apart from the pilot I.e. 9.
5.It can take maximum load of 1500 kg slinging or 1400 kg inside it.
6. It has a detachable cabin which can be converted into transport cabin, mobile ambulance or troop transport.

Disadvantages
1.It has relatively less top speed.
2.It cannot be converted into a gunship.

I stand to be corrected as I am no expert.
Good morning
Cheers
Thanks

Clearly It has more advantages than disadvantages though we can always mount some light weapons on it manned by a co-passenger

 

[sancho]

The HAL LUH taking part in this deal makes no effing sense whatsoever.

It sadly does make a lot of sense, since the decision not to select a winner by IA and the decision to scrap and re-issue the tender by the new MoD delayed the deal well within the delivery time of HAL's LUH. So the initial idea of getting a ready and available LUH, as a fast option for half of the requirement doesn't hold it's own anymore. That's why I told Sandy a few months ago, that HAL should play it smart and find a privat co-production partner, to comply to the governments agenda to prefer privat industry and get the whole deal. They could even avoid this tender if they had acted fast, but their ego to do it alone, might be a problem too. Now L&T teams up with Airbus and afaik Tata already has a JV with AW, which puts 2 of the giants in a good position wrt the government.

 

[Chanakya's_Chant]

DAC MoD has cleared the purchase of 197 Kamov Ka-226T Sergei Helicopters - With this the IAF and IA requirement for LUHs (384 RSH Helicopters) will be fulfilled by 197 Kamov Ka-226T Sergei + 187 HAL Light Utility Helicopters (LUH's).

https://twitter.com/x/status/598532176859123712

 

[The Huskar]

Seems like the money saved from the MMRCA bid is being put into use.

 

[Abingdonboy]

Seems like the money saved from the MMRCA bid is being put into use.

a) it doesn't work like that
b) The Rafale deal is still in the works

 

[truthseeker2010]

if india really wants to go for "make in india" scheme, then why go for foreign buyer?

or is it another MMRCA?

 

[Abingdonboy]

if india really wants to go for "make in india" scheme, then why go for foreign buyer?

Because they will be made in India

 

[truthseeker2010]

Because they will be made in India

we will see....

 

[Chanakya's_Chant]

we will see....

The deal was finalized during Putin's India Visit in December '14.

Russia to assemble 400 choppers a year in India - IBNLive

 

[Mike_Brando]

we will see....

The only thing that you guys can effectively do at this moment is to watch India helplessly (with a pinch of jealousy ofcourse)while she goes on a shopping spree.

 

[The Huskar]

a) it doesn't work like that
b) The Rafale deal is still in the works

IAF must have allotted money for 126 Rafales purchase in future.Now 36 Rafales must have freed some of that.

 

[truthseeker2010]

The only thing that you guys can effectively do at this moment is to watch India helplessly (with a pinch of jealousy ofcourse)while she goes on a shopping spree.

india is always on shopping spree, with an aim of becoming of self reliant, that it has failed to do so far, so this is nothing special.