IAF To Soon Receive The First AW-101 Helicopters

[arp2041]

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The Indian Air Force is all set to spread its wings further. In order to attain greater heights, the Indian Air Force (IAF) pilots are being trained on some of the world's finest flying-machines known as Agusta Westland AW-101.

Agusta Westland AW-101 are helicopters that have been purchased for commuting dignitaries. The first assortment of which is to be delivered by the end of 2012.

"The first batch of the IAF pilots had arrived in Britain as scheduled and were undergoing training at the Agusta Westland facility," said Finmeccanica group CEO Giuseppe Orsi during a press meet at the Farnborough Air Show.

Though, he didn't go into further details but told that some of the pilots would be trained in Britain as instructors also and they would in turn train their colleagues back home in India.

Agusta Westland, incorporating the former British Westland Helicopters, is a Finmeccanica group company now. It has delivered some 300 helicopters of different types to 22 countries since the merger of Augusta and Westland in 2000.

The week-long air show ended on July 15.

Getting familiar with its secure ride, The Indian Air Force selected the three-engined AW-101 for its VIP movement in 2010 in a US $827 million deal for 12 helicopters inclusive of training. All 12 helicopters are supposed to delivered by 2013.

The helicopter was selected after field trials after the results were evaluated by the IAF and the Special Protection Group (SPG), responsible for protection of the prime minister and elite political leaders.

The quirky aircrafts are fitted with missile jammers and electronic warfare counter-measure mechanisms as indeed like those of the US or other presidents around the world. No details are available though.

Defence News - IAF To Soon Receive The First AW-101 Helicopters

[Sher Malang]

Different types of aircraft with different technologies from different countries doesn't it jeopardizes the standardization of IAF?

[Skull and Bones]

Different types of aircraft with different technologies from different countries doesn't it jeopardizes the standardization of IAF?

Not exactly, it's mainly for VIP transportation. Has little to do with IAF chopper fleet.

[arp2041]

Different types of aircraft with different technologies from different countries doesn't it jeopardizes the standardization of IAF?

You are right, in fact IAF is facing a lot of trouble in handling atleast 15-16 types of aircrafts (fixed wing & rotatory), due to this problem faced by IAF it is now trying to limit the type of aircrafts in it's inventory, in future it may have just one fighter aircraft in every category i.e. LCA (light weight), Rafale (medium weight) & su-30mki/fgfa (in heavy weight). So the no. of type will be less but the nos. of induction will be more. Apart from this it is now inducting those aircrafts for transport purpose which are more & more easy to handle such as C-17s & C-130s, though there will be no easy solutions for the high number types of aircrafts that IAF has but it is surely tackling this problem to best of it's ability.

[Joe Shearer]

Different types of aircraft with different technologies from different countries doesn't it jeopardizes the standardization of IAF?

Tell me about it!

Ask me some time about the project we did converting all the manuals of some 18 aircraft types to SGML. Remind me to tell you what happened when key manuals of the most deployed aircraft turned out to be missing, not only in India but in their country of origin!

[Srinivas]

Different types of aircraft with different technologies from different countries doesn't it jeopardizes the standardization of IAF?

Your are very true, But getting the best technologies and integrating them into indigenous projects will work wonders in future. The only way to get best tech is to buy or joint colloboration as far as India is concerned

[Sher Malang]

Your are very true, But getting the best technologies and integrating them into indigenous projects will work wonders in future. The only way to get best tech is to buy or joint colloboration as far as India is concerned

That will be in the best interest of India to taste all of them but you can't disregard the possibility of confusion and unprofessional use of those aircraft during any direct war and maintaining all of them will also cost you triple.

[airmarshal]

This helicopter is very high tech. Not only VIP transportation, with which South Asians are obsessed, it should be inducted in the army too as it is a very advanced, high tech replacement for ageing fleets across the world.

[Sher Malang]

Tell me about it!

Ask me some time about the project we did converting all the manuals of some 18 aircraft types to SGML. Remind me to tell you what happened when key manuals of the most deployed aircraft turned out to be missing, not only in India but in their country of origin!

That was a misfortune and could prove catastrophic during any direct conflict.

[Abingdonboy]

This helicopter is very high tech. Not only VIP transportation, with which South Asians are obsessed, it should be inducted in the army too as it is a very advanced, high tech replacement for ageing fleets across the world.

Different types of aircraft with different technologies from different countries doesn't it jeopardizes the standardization of IAF?

That will be in the best interest of India to taste all of them but you can't disregard the possibility of confusion and unprofessional use of those aircraft during any direct war and maintaining all of them will also cost you triple.

Not really, this helo is meant to tranport thehighest government officals such as the PM and president. Most countries have specilised a/c just for their VVIPs look at US and "Marine One". As such these helos will never be utilised in a time of war and the SQD that operates them- the Communications SQD are an isolated unit in the IAF in the sense they have their own specilised aircraft (AW-101, EMB-145 and BBJs) which are not operated in the rest of the IAF so are a mini-AF within themselves with their own logisitcs and training.

[Ambitious.Asian]

So our president Pranab would be really happy to Taste the Bird

[Abingdonboy]

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So our president Pranab would be really happy to Taste the Bird

She's gone, shew will never get the chance to fly in this beast (thank God!).