Indian Navy Planning To Issue a Request for Proposal for Procuring 56 Light

[Indian Army]

Indian Navy Planning To Issue a Request for Proposal for Procuring 56 Light Utility Helicopters

Looking to replace its ageing fleet of Chetak helicopters, the Indian Navy is planning to issue a global Request for Proposal (RFP) worth over USD 800 million for procuring 56 Light Utility Helicopters in the first quarter of next year.

"The Staff Qualitative requirements have been frozen and we are hoping to issue the global tender in this regard by the end of first quarter next year,” Navy sources said to Defencenow.com.

The IAF and the Army have already completed their field evaluation trials for procuring 197 Reconnaissance and Search Helicopters (RSH) and the tender is in its final stages. The two services are looking for single engine choppers.

Navy officials said they are looking for twin-engine choppers as they would be required to operate over maritime zone.

"Two power plants provide additional safety to the chopper in case one of the engines fails over sea where you don’t have the option of landing anywhere other than the ship deck,” they said.

The request for Information for this procurement was issued twice. First was issued in late 2010 whereas the second was done in March this year.

The companies who have responded to the RFI include Eurocopter, Agusta Westland, Sikorsky, Russian Kamov and American Bell helicopters.

The helicopters will be used for both shore-based and offshore operations and the Navy has specified they should be capable of operating from small decks and larger decks (up to aircraft carrier) in adverse weather by day and night.

It also wants the choppers to be operated from snow-covered surface, sleet, sand, water and slush.

 

[angeldemon_007]

There are two important points here :

1) Is this a joke that IN will be protecting our shore and sea with just 56 LUH ? 56 is way too less...

2) Secondly since when per unit cost of a LUH rose to more than 14 million $ ? I find it way too expensive...The best option for us is fennec and fennec is most likely to win IA-IAF deal so we can add it to that deal and get some money reduced. Also presently fennec cost around 4-5 million $.

 

[IndoUS]

There are two important points here :

1) Is this a joke that IN will be protecting our shore and sea with just 56 LUH ? 56 is way too less...

2) Secondly since when per unit cost of a LUH rose to more than 14 million $ ? I find it way too expensive...The best option for us is fennec and fennec is most likely to win IA-IAF deal so we can add it to that deal and get some money reduced. Also presently fennec cost around 4-5 million $.

What happened to the naval variant of Dhruv? I thought I saw some pics of it.

 

[Abingdonboy]

What happened to the naval variant of Dhruv? I thought I saw some pics of it.

Unlike with IA/IAF variants naval variants have has some troubles especially with deck qualification and storage on IN ships. For some reason the IN never really got behind the Dhruv so issues were never properly addressed.


I suspect this order will go up well past the 56 Mark as per usual Indian defence acquisitions wherein the second follow-on order is larger than the initial first batch. IN is looking to completely replace all of their HELOs within the next few years as MRH trails were recently completed and order is expected soon.

 

[angeldemon_007]

What happened to the naval variant of Dhruv? I thought I saw some pics of it.

Its cancelled...@Abingdonboy is right...there is also a problem of fold-able blades of dhruv...

I suspect this order will go up well past the 56 Mark as per usual Indian defence acquisitions wherein the second follow-on order is larger than the initial first batch. IN is looking to completely replace all of their HELOs within the next few years as MRH trails were recently completed and order is expected soon.

I hope you r right because all our chopper deals makes no sense because of smaller size of the deal as compared to the size of the force. LUH and Mi17 deal are still fine but we need more of these also...

 

[Archie]

Nothing wrong with ordering 56 LUH
As you guys know we have around 50-55 Allouette III ie Chetak/Cheetah Helis currently in service and this order is primarily meant to replace them ie Hopefully completely phase them out by 2020
Same is the case with MRH order with India looking to order 16 Multirole/ASW Helis and following it with another 44 Helis in future , Infact at present we have 34 SeaKings , 12 Kamov-28 and 7 Kamov-25 Helis in service
17 SeaKings are to be upgraded while the rest of SeaKings and Ka25/28 Helis will be retired by 2020
Indian Navy Hopes to replace its entire ASW Heli Fleet by 2022-25 with induction of 60 MRH Helis , and which I hope should be the Eurocopter NH90

Infact The only Helis currently in service , and which will also be in service in 2022 are the 9 Kamov-31 Helix B AEW Helis and 8 HAL Dhruvs used in SAR roles
Indian Navy will induct 5 more Ka-31 Helix B AEW Helis by 2014 for INS Vikrant II

 

[angeldemon_007]

^^^
Yeah we all know at present we have very small fleet of choppers in our armed forces. Even Pakistan might have more choppers than us. Yeah the new orders indicate more chopper induction than the present fleet but as compared to other countries we do have very less choppers.

 

[sancho]

There are two important points here :

1) Is this a joke that IN will be protecting our shore and sea with just 56 LUH ? 56 is way too less...

They are not meant to protect our shores, but for uttility roles in and around IN navy bases or at our carriers for example. For longer range missions IN has Dhruv, Ka helicopters and Sea Kings, which will be replaced in future by medium range helicopters.

Unlike with IA/IAF variants naval variants have has some troubles especially with deck qualification and storage on IN ships. For some reason the IN never really got behind the Dhruv so issues were never properly addressed.

I think you confuse the naval Dhruv with the ASW Dhruv here:

The ealier is in IN service (even at INS Viraat or vessels) and folding blades wasn't an issue either, but the letter was found to have not enough range to be useful as an ASW helicopter, that's why foreign helicopters will be procured.

 

[Nirvana]

What Are Possible Contenders ?

Eurocopter May Reply to Tender with Its Naval Fennec , Frontrunner in Similiar Tender In Air force

Also Note HAL's 3 Tonne LUH Under Development can Be Considered for Utility Role in Navy as Project Moves Forward , Though it will be a Single Engine Chopper !