Forces need 1,000 copters in 10 yrs

Ajay Banerjee

Tribune News Service

Bangalore, February 15

Over the next decade, a whopping 1,000 helicopters of various types are needed by the three services even as India is just about getting started.

A two-stage transformation process promises to bring about new and potent helicopter technology; it will commence in about 18 months from now. The second stage will take another four years. The change will be across the spectrum comprising heavy-lift, medium, light-utility and armed choppers.

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The ongoing 11th Aero-India at Bangalore may be a turning point, but it would take years to show results. Much will depend upon the public sector giant Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) that is woefully short of capacity, producing just 20 helicopters a year against the Ministry of Defence’s demand for 100. The private sector is waiting in the wings, but foreign collaborators hold the technological edge.

The first to commence will be deliveries of the 15, CH-47F Chinook heavy-lift helicopters, which are expected to commence in 2018. In the medium-weight category, Russia’s Rosoboronexport has already completed the delivery of 151 units of Mi-17V-5 helicopters. “It is possible that deal to provide another 48 such copters will be inked this year,” the Rosoboronexport announced today.

The three services need 484 light-utility helicopters (LUH) to replace Cheetah/Chetak fleet of helicopters. The Army requires 259, IAF 125 and Navy around 100 such helicopters equipped with anti-submarine warfare (ASW) capabilities. Cheetah/Chetak helicopters are based on the 1950s’ designed Alouette Aérospatiale 315B Lama of France.

The LUH has two components to it—HAL is designing, developing and building 187 of these. One such copter took flight here. 

The Chairman-cum-Managing Director of HAL, Suvarna Raju, said, “Deliveries can commence in 2018.” It’s powered by French company Turbomeca engines—HAL’s advanced light helicopter Dhruv already inducted in the forces uses a variant of same engine. Separately, HAL in partnership with Russia will build 197 Kamov-226T LUH-type copters. The Army and Air Force need 114 helicopters and 65 armed helicopters, respectively. The light-combat helicopter developed by HAL could start production in six to eight months, Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar announced yesterday. 

It is currently under development and undergoing weapon integration. The MoD has contracted 22 of the Apache AH-64E attack helicopters from the US and deliveries are to commence in 2019. 

The Navy needs another 50 twin-engine helicopters for ship-deck launch operations. It also wants 147 multi-role helicopters with anti-submarine warfare capabilities classified as naval multi-role helicopter.