Navy's plan whirs out of control as it struggles to find new choppers

[arp2041]

The Indian Navy urgently needs to replace its ageing helicopter fleet but new choppers are nowhere in sight as the force struggles with delays in purchases.

As the navy gears up to celebrate 60 years of naval aviation in May, the force is proud to fly the newly inducted Boeing P-8I, the long-range reconnaissance aircraft, and the Mig-29K carrier-borne combat jets.

In the coming years, it is going to add to its sea fleet a whole range of new frigates and destroyers but it will not have helicopters to operate from these unless urgent purchases are made.

The navy in 2008 proposed to include Israeli companies for the sensor upgradation programme for 17 Sea King helicopters, bought from AgustaWestland, but faced resistance from the manufacturer.

The navy claimed it was forced to shop for other vendors after AgustaWestland failed to provide product support following India's nuclear tests in 1998.

There are serious operational issues in keeping the Sea King fleet afloat.

The navy wants to buy 16 multi-role helicopters in the first lot to replace the Sea Kings, which are nearing the last leg of their life.

The competition is between NHIndustries' NH90 and Sikorsky 70B.

Even if the contract is finalised this year, the aircraft will not start arriving before 2016 by when the Sea Kings will be overstretched as the commercial negotiations are yet to start.

The navy's plan to buy 56 naval light utility helicopters for which bids have been invited from all the leading helicopter makers AgustaWestland, Bell, Boeing, Eurocopter, Kamov and Sikorsky too has run into delay.

The light utility helicopters are meant to replace the Chetaks, which are facing serious safety issues. India is probably the only navy in the world to operate single-engine Chetaks for maritime role.

With AgustaWestland getting involved in a bribery scandal in the sale of VVIP helicopter AW101 to the Indian Air Force, the company is facing the prospect of being blacklisted by the defence ministry.

The possibility is likely to impact the naval procurement programme as well.

Navy's copter plan whirs out of the control as it struggles to find new choppers | Mail Online

 

[anant_s]

with on-going controversy over VVIP choppers, AW may not stand much of chance.
btw i noticed that Sikorsky 70B has a range of 460 km and that of Eurocopter AS565MB is only 250 km compared to others having range in excess of 650 km+. does anyone have any info as to what tender specs called for.

 

[arp2041]

with on-going controversy over VVIP choppers, AW may not stand much of chance.
btw i noticed that Sikorsky 70B has a range of 460 km and that of Eurocopter AS565MB is only 250 km compared to others having range in excess of 650 km+. does anyone have any info as to what tender specs called for.

The tender for procuring 56 twin-engine Naval Utility Helicopters was issued earlier this week. It has been sent to major chopper makers including US firm Sikorsky, Eurocopter, Kamov and Italy's Agusta Westland, navy officials told PTI in Delhi.

The Navy has demanded that the helicopters should be capable of carrying out anti-submarine warfare (ASW) role and should be equipped with torpedoes and depth charges.

In the tender, the Navy has specified that the 4.5 tonne helicopters should have twin-engines to allow them to operate in rough sea conditions.

The Navy is also planning to use the chopper for its anti-piracy and anti-terrorism operations.

Navy floats tender for buying 56 choppers - India - DNA

I don't think range is a crucial criteria.

 

[RISING SUN]

We have to set our priorities then make balance in whatever we are going to buy. There should be some mechanism by which we are able to steer out of trouble times easily like war-times. If we are not able to use our machines in this situation then there is no meaning of spending the taxpayers hard earned money.
Regarding the specs, it may not be best but it should provide optimal performance when dealing in different kind of environments man made and nature made. It should have have proper balance in terms of engine quality and safety. Other things we can incorporate from our end but prime company should provide at least these kind of facilities.

 

[Abingdonboy]

I'm sorry but what a needlessly sensationalist article. If the IN was doing nothing then attack them but they have well and truly got a grasp on what they need and are working towards this end as fast as the MoD's procurement policy will allow. The fact is the standard time from tender to contract is ~3 years and with deliveries anywhere from 1 year to 4 years after this point depending on the system. There is NOTHING the IN can do about these intervals.


Then to throw in the AW blacklisting angle not only is this disingenuous as AW are innocent until proven guilty and the MoD recently took the decision not to blacklist anymore OEMs. Additionally I fail to see how even if AW was blacklisted this would impact the N-LUH in any particularly negative way. Yes if AW had pulled out at the last stage when they and one other company were in the race but as it is the conpetion is at the very early stages and if AW pulls out it means nothing especially as the AW was unlikely to even win the competion (early indications point toward the Bell 429 being the hot favourite ).


Whilst I agree it is pretty absurd that the IN is inducting billion dollar plus destroyers and frigates and operating pretty outdated helos off them but the situation will be sorted out by the end of this decade and with the Chetaks and Sea Kings being given limited upgrades to keep them somewhat relevant until their replacements come along in the near future.


The Indian media has an unhelpful tendency to go over the top and pointlessly negative in such matters.

 

[sancho]

with on-going controversy over VVIP choppers, AW may not stand much of chance.
btw i noticed that Sikorsky 70B has a range of 460 km and that of Eurocopter AS565MB is only 250 km compared to others having range in excess of 650 km+. does anyone have any info as to what tender specs called for.

Not a good article, with wrong specs as well:

EC AS 565
Military helicopter, Panther, helicopter manufacturer - Eurocopter, an EADS company


EC 725
Cougar helicopter EC725, military helicopter, cougar Eurocopter - Eurocopter, an EADS company


NH90
General data about the nh90 helicopter - New reference for Armed Forces - NH90, The New Reference for the Armed Forces


R60R (attributes)
MH-60R


S70B(attributes)
S-70B

I don't think range is a crucial criteria.

It is for sure, once because that was claimed to be one reason for IN not to go for a naval Dhruv, secondly because the operational radius and endurance of carrier aircrafts is always important, since they are meant to project power and not only do close range missions like they often do in IAF or IA.