INDIA- HELICOPTER Competitions::News and Discussions

[jha]

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US, Russia in race for IAF attack choppers deal

The US and Russia will face off for the deal to supply the Indian Air Force crucial attack choppers after two major competitors from Europe pulled out citing technical reasons. The mainstay attack helicopters of the two countries will arrive in India within two months and will be put through several rounds of gruelling tests.
What has left many surprised is that Eurocopter’s Tiger and Agusta’s A129 Mangusta have pulled out of the estimated $600 million contest and will not be coming for the field trials.

Sources said that Eurocopter decided not to take part months ago and did not respond to request for proposals issued by the IAF. Agusta, on the other hand, seems to have pulled out at the last minute after it assessed that the Mangusta would not be able to fulfill the requirements of the IAF field trials, which include hard landings in high-altitude areas.

The surprise exit of the two European choppers — considered to be highly competitive — will give an advantage to Boeing’s AH-64D Apache Longbow, which will compete with the Russian Mi 28 attack chopper.

Incidentally, the procurement process for the attack helicopters was cancelled last year after two American companies opted out of the competition saying they did not get adequate time to seek permission from Washington to take part in the tender. This had led to protests by other competitors, notably the Europeans, who complained that the competition was stalled to tilt it in the favour of the American companies.

In May last year, the tender was reissued — the first defence tender to be taken out by the re-elected UPA government.

“We hope to begin trials within the next 60 days. We are offering the latest version of the Apache, the AH-64 D Longbow, and are confident that it is well suited for Indian requirements,” Vivek Lall, Vice-President and Country Head, Boeing Defense Space & Security, told The Indian Express.

Russia is offering its latest-generation Mi 28 ‘Havoc’ helicopter, that was inducted by its armed forces in 2006.

While the first round of trials will take place in India, the IAF evaluation team will also travel to the US and Russia for a round of weapon trials.

The IAF is planning to initially procure 22 attack helicopters to replace its fleet of ageing Mi 35 attack choppers, which are nearing the end of their service life.

US, Russia in race for IAF attack choppers deal idrw.org

[jha]

APACHE AH-64 LONGBOW

[jha]

MI-28 "HAVOC"

[Chaluboy]

shouldn't the apache win hands down ? the russian heli looks bulky and seems like stuck in the 1980's

[jha]

Sikorsky eyes helicopter deal with Indian Navy
US helicopter manufacturer Sikorsky is actively pursuing defence deals with the Indian Navy to cater to its requirement of multi-role helicopters. The firm is offering the S-70B through the direct commercial sale route. Simultaneously, the US Air Force has responded to the Indian Navy’s RFP for a $1 billion multi-role helicopter with the Lockheed Martin-Sikorsky MH-60R.

“This is to meet the requirement for 16 helicopters to replace the aging Sea King multi-role helicopters. In addition to this, Sikorsky is also in dialogue with the Indian Coast Guard to meet their specific requirements and has responded to their RFI that was sent out for leasing helicopters,” Steve Estill, vice-president, strategic partnerships, told FE on the sidelines of DefExpo 2010 in New Delhi. The Indian coast guard is keen to lease around 10 helicopters and Sikorsky will be financing the lease, he added.

S-70B SEA HAWK


MH-60R


The helicopters will be equipped with anti-ship and anti-submarine warfare equipment including cruise missiles and torpedoes, and also be capable of being refuelled in flight. The type will operate from both naval vessels and land bases. The order is expected to go up to 60 helis.

These are ideal to replace the sea king helicopters...

I forgot to mention the IN's helicopter...will do it tomorrow....

[jha]

shouldn't the apache win hands down ? the russian heli looks bulky and seems like stuck in the 1980's

In Heavy combat choppers APACHE is favorite...however there is som competition in heavy lift category between Mi-26 and Chinook ...

[SpArK]

[sancho]

@ Jha

In the LIGHT UTILITY HELICOPTER competition it's not the AW 101, which is a medium helicopter, it's the AW119

In Heavy combat choppers APACHE is favorite...however there is som competition in heavy lift category between Mi-26 and Chinook ...

I wouldn't be so sure about it, of course the Apache and Chinook offers unique capabilities, but the combat helicopter competition is only for a number of 22, which means Apache would be costly. Also it replaces the Mi 35 and the Russian helicopter could use its weapons too. In the heavy lift competition it should be about the lifting capability of heavy cargo and the Ch 53 is more comparable to the Mi 26 in this field. I have some doubts about new Mi 26, because the replacement seems to be urguent and a newer version is only in development AFAIK.

[Abingdonboy]

MI-28 "HAVOC"

Surley the Apache was already miles ahead oh the Mil in terms of leathality, inteeligence, techology and then the Longbow varient made it MORE advanced, able to track more targets at greater ranges, if this was purely a question of the best ATTACK helo the Apache would win hands down every day for the next 10-15 yrs

[jha]

@ Jha

In the LIGHT UTILITY HELICOPTER competition it's not the AW 101, which is a medium helicopter, it's the AW119



I wouldn't be so sure about it, of course the Apache and Chinook offers unique capabilities, but the combat helicopter competition is only for a number of 22, which means Apache would be costly. Also it replaces the Mi 35 and the Russian helicopter could use its weapons too. In the heavy lift competition it should be about the lifting capability of heavy cargo and the Ch 53 is more comparable to the Mi 26 in this field. I have some doubts about new Mi 26, because the replacement seems to be urguent and a newer version is only in development AFAIK.

I would not worry too much about this...anyways the main combat will be LCH for coming years and APACHE brings a lot new to the table..
BTW when is Mi-35 going to retire..any idea..?

[sancho]

I would not worry too much about this...anyways the main combat will be LCH for coming years and APACHE brings a lot new to the table..
BTW when is Mi-35 going to retire..any idea..?

When the new combat helicopters arrive I would guess and although I would like to see some Apaches, the cost factor is important too. Apache means higher unit costs and complete new weapons and spares and I'm not sure if IAF wants that for such a small number.

[jha]

^^^This has a positive side too...The weapons APACHE will bring may be incorporated in LCH also...and as we know eventually all the weapons will be of indian origin so whatever the new chopper is , doesn't matter.
However the spares may cause headache for INDIA...

[Mirza Jatt]

I would like to see apache in Indian arsenal....its the best in its category....and its silent too.

[maithil]

^^Such a good thread..why are the senior members not contributing..?

[sancho]

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HAL’s Light Utility Helicopter (LUH) Mock up emerges

Hal at the official First flight of LCH (Light Combat Helicopter) also displayed the full scale mockup of the Light Utility Helicopter (LUH); LUH will be replacing current work horse Chetak, Cheetah of Indian Army and Indian Ari force, Requirements put forward by both the forces are around 384 helicopters.
In latest Mock up it seems that HAL is sticking with Conventional Tail rotor instead of shrouded tail rotor which was first displayed in Aero India 2009 model. Aero India model of LUH had shrouded tail rotor which is also known as Fenestron or Fantail in aviation circle. Our Defence expert Rajesh Sharma told idrw.org that it might have been done to keep the construction cost lower and ducted fan tail rotor adds weight to helicopter , LUH is supposed to be a 3 ton helicopter powered by a single HAL/Turbomeca Shakti engine. The aircraft will have a range of up to 500km (270nm) and a 500kg (1,100lb) payload. LUH will be used in Higher Attitude region.
Since these requirements are on urgent basis all 384 helicopters will not be sourced from HAL only, around 187 LUHs (126 for the Army and 61 for the Air Force) initially will be sourced from a foreign vendor, Trials for LUH are been carried out at this moment and participating companies are Euro copter with its AS550 Model, Agusta Westland with AW119 and Russia’s Rosoboron export with Kamov-226.
Recent media reports suggest that AW119 LUH from Agusta Westland has been disqualified from the trails for bring a civilian variant to the competition, and reports of again competition heading for cancellation have been reported due to irregularities by vendor companies.

Defence News: HAL’s Light Utility Helicopter (LUH) Mock up emerges


@ Jha, please change AW 101 to AW 119

@ All, any recent infos if the AW 119 is still in the competition, or not? Tata has a JV with them and are producing this type for exports, which means it could have an advantage if it's still in.