Defence Notes
New Delhi, 8 September 2009
800 New Helicopters
ARMED FORCES GO SHOPPING
By Radhakrishna Rao
Saddled with a fleet of ageing and
obsolete helicopters that are both costly and difficult to maintain, all the
three wings of the Defence Services are looking at inducting as many as 800 new
hi-tech genre rotary wing aircraft capable of performing a wide range of tasks.
The ambitious plan of expanding and strengthening
the helicopter fleet over the next few years is to be realized through a deft and
imaginative combination of outright acquisition from the global aviation majors
through competitive bids and a vigorous plan of action for the indigenous
production of certain categories of choppers by the State-owned aeronautical
major Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL).
The Navy which operates a diverse
but far from efficient fleet of choppers including Seaking, Chetak, Dornier and
Kamov-31, is keen on boosting its
helicopter-based anti-submarine warfare and heavy lift operations capability.
In particular, it is seeking to acquire a number of 10-tonne class helicopters
capable of ferrying men and material and also of having the facility of getting
refueled in mid-air. However, the Navy is not keen on acquiring the naval
variant of home-grown 5.5-tonne class Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH) Dhruv, as its current configuration is
inadequate to meet the stringent requirements.
Recently, the Cabinet Committee on
Security approved the acquisition of five more Russian origin Kamov-31 early
warning helicopters at an estimated cost of Rs.9,600-million. These choppers
would bolster the Navy’s long-range capability to detect air-borne and surface
threats. It already has nine such copters. With an Eye airborne electronic
warfare radar mounted beneath its fuselage, Kamov-31 can simultaneously track
up to 40 air-borne and surface threats.
On another front, India has
sought bids from global helicopter majors for the acquisition of 197 light
utility and observation helicopters for the use of the aviation wing of the Army
and the Indian Air Force (IAF). These helicopters will be deployed for
operations in high altitude areas such as Siachen and Kargil and would replace
the ageing fleet of Cheetah and Chetak choppers.
In fact, an earlier tender to
acquire these helicopters was cancelled last year after Eurocopter was close to
bagging the order. According to the Defence Ministry, the cancellation of the
tender was a sequel to the detection of “impropriety while carrying out the
evaluation trials”.
Simultaneously, another 187 such
choppers will be manufactured by HAL for induction by 2016-17. HAL has already
submitted a proposal to the Defence Ministry for the indigenous design,
development and production of three-tonne class light utility helicopter (LUH).
The Ministry’s current view is that the immediate need of LUH could be met from
acquiring 197 such choppers.
Thus, HAL is planning to take up the
project in association with a helicopter major of global repute. Further, to complete
the full-range of choppers, HAL has decided to design and manufacture a
10-tonne class multi-role helicopter and invited proposal from the
international aviation companies for co-development.
The IAF, which has now a fleet of around 300 choppers including Chetaks
and Cheetahs, Soviet era Mi--26 heavy lift off choppers, Mi-25/35 attack helicopters,
has issued RFP (Request for Proposal)
for 22 combat and 15 heavy lift helicopters to the global helicopter majors.
Incidentally, the ageing helicopters in service with IAF are often called
during natural calamities but most have not been found fit for the task. And,
the Soviet era Mi-range of helicopters in service are saddled with the problem
of spares’ shortage.
This apart, the IAF has placed order
for 10 Cheetal helicopters with the HAL
of which four have already been delivered. Accordingly, the re-engineered Cheetals will increase the operational
capability in high altitudes. In fact, the chopper created a sort of world
record by landing at 23,200 ft pressure altitude at Sasar Kangri of Ladakh region
in November 2004. Importantly, with its new TM-333-2M2 engine, the chopper has
demonstrated an increased range, endurance and payload capability..
As a follow up to Dhruv and its weaponised version, the HAL
has initiated work on the development of Light Combat Helicopter (LCH). The sanction
for this project was granted based on the IAF’s requirements. The 5.5-tonne
class LCH is expected to be inducted during 2011-13. The double engine, two-seater
chopper will be armed with 20-mm turret twin barrel guns, cluster bombs, rocket
pods and air-to-air and air-to-ground missiles, other than being equipped with an
anti-tank missile Nag.
Designed for anti-tank and anti-infantry
roles, the LCH will also be capable of high altitude warfare since its
operational ceiling is 16,000-18,000-ft. It will also incorporate stealth
features in addition to carrying a crashworthy landing gear for better
survivability. Further, it will feature a narrow fuselage, helmet mounted
target system, electronics warfare equipment and electro optics system to
bolster its attack capability.
As for the new weaponised version of
Dhruv, equipped with high performance
Shakti (ardiden) engine capable of
generating 30% more thrust than the TM-333-2B2 engine used in the utility
version is likely to complete its qualification trials by the end
of 2009. It would serve as a gun ship in the Himalayan regions of India.
HAL, which has so far delivered 80
utility version of Dhruv to the Armed
Forces, has on its hand, a standing order for the delivery of 200 choppers. But
its production line can only churn out three-four pieces a month and with its
present rate it would take years for HAL to clear its standing commitment. Even
as HAL is planning to export Dhruv in
a big way, growing demand for the chopper from the Forces and internal security
agencies could force the aeronautical major to slow down its export drive. Incidentally,
the 5.5-tonne class Dhruv, India’s first-ever fully home-grown
chopper has helped HAL live down its image of being an enterprise focused on
licensed production.
The production line of Dhruv
commenced at HAL in during 2001-02 and based on the feed back, the performance
of the helicopter has been improved substantially over the years. It
incorporates a number of advanced features including integrated dynamic system,
full authority digital electronic control, hingless main rotor and bearingless
tail rotor.
HAL has already supplied five Dhruv to the Air Force of Ecuador as
part of US$51-million order for seven choppers. The variant being supplied is
of utility type and will be mainly used for hoist and rescue operations. Last
year, HAL bagged a US$20-million order from Turkey for three ALH Dhurvs. In 2008, HAL had narrowly missed
bagging order for the supply of 12 ALH Dhruv to Chile. It also sold two such choppers
to Nepal and leased out one
to Israel.
However, HAL’s plan to sell Dhruv’s to neighbouring Myanmar is said to have
come a copper following international pressure. Meanwhile, HAL is looking at
Mauritius, UAE and African countries as potential customers for its flagship
product. –INFA
(Copyright, India News and Feature
Alliance)
|