Manufacturing of Helicopters in India

Manufacturing of Helicopters in India

At present, there is no such proposal to prepare a separate policy on Make-in-India to invite private companies in defence sector. The defence production sector was opened in 2001 for 100% private sector participation. Further in pursuance of the Defence Production Policy 2011, the Government has taken the following major steps to promote the participation of private sector in production of defence equipments:

Technology Perspective and “Capability roadmap (TPCR), which gives out the equipment and technologies required by our Armed Forces, has been put in public domain to provide the industry an overview of the direction in which the Armed Forces intend to head in terms of capability over the next 15 years.

Preference to ‘Buy (Indian)’, ‘Buy & Make (Indian)’ & ‘Make’ categories over ‘Buy (Global)’ or ‘Buy & Make’ categories of Capital Acquisition cases.

The procedure for ‘Buy and Make (Indian)’ category, has been simplified in order to make the category more attractive for Indian Defence industry.

A clear definition of indigenous content has been provided which would not only bring more clarity on the indigenous content required for different categorization, but also enhance the indigenization of defence products in India.

Indian private sector industry has also been allowed to receive Maintenance Transfer of Technology (MToT) in ‘Buy (Global)’ cases.

FDI Policy in Defence sector has been reviewed and as per the new policy, composite foreign investment up to 49% has been allowed through FIPB route and beyond 49% with the approval of Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS).

Defence Products List for the purpose of industrial licensing has been revised and in the revised list most of the components / parts / raw materials have been taken out from the purview of the industrial licensing.

) Defence Exports Strategy has been formulated and put in public domain. The Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for issuing NOC for export of military stores has been simplified and made online.

Defence Acquisition Council has taken a decision to procure 384 Light Helicopters for Indian Air Force (IAF) & Indian Army and 56 Naval Utility Helicopters through ‘Buy & Make (Indian)’ route. Acquisition covered under the ‘Buy & Make (Indian)’ route would mean purchase from an Indian vendor (including Indian company forming the joint venture / establishing production arrangement with Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs), followed by licensed production / indigenous manufacture in the country.

Hindustan Aeronautical Limited (HAL) has decided to augment its helicopters manufacturing capacity of Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH) from 24 to 36 helicopters per annum.

- PIB

RM Manohar Parrikar conveys DAC : A Detailed view

RM Manohar Parrikar conveys DAC : A Detailed view

   Working towards its promised modernized military, the man in command RM Manohar Parrikar chaired the all crucial Defense Acquit ion Council (DAC) meeting yesterday. The RM assisted by the defense secretary and the three chief of staff met in South Block, New Delhi to discuss the future course and held discussions regarding the future acquisition for the strengthening of the forces.  DAC has cleared several important acquisitions which promise to keep the nation ready to face any atrocities it may face from its unstable and unreliable neighbours. Even though the DAC meet was conveyed on Friday, it remained inconclusive on several issues and had to be cut short owing to the unplanned departure of RM Parrikar to Goa on a undisclosed emergency.

    The highlight of the DAC is undoubtedly the clearance for the acquisition of nearly 48 Mi-17V-5 medium lift helicopters for the IAF. These Mi 17V-5s are slated to replace the aging Mi-8 helicopter fleet, which is currently the air force mainstay lift copter force. IAF currently operates nearly 150 Mi-8 copters and relies on its lift capabilities for all operations across the nation. The Mil Mi-8 copters were acquired from the Russians to mainly supplement the forward operating forces. With these airframes aging and unable to serve at higher altitudes the IAF acquired the latest Mi-17V-5 medium lift copters from Russia in 2008 under a speculated US $ 1.4 billion deal.

   The air force currently operates a 70-strong Mi-17V-5 fleet and has placed an order for nearly 199 copters which were placed in 80+71+48 phased manner. DAC has now cleared another 48 Mi-17V-5 copters to be acquired from the Russian firm. In support to NDA’s ambitious, Make in India campaign the deal will mandate the Russian firm to team up with an Indian private aerospace partner to manufacture the copters indigenously in India.

   DAC has also addressed the needs for Air Traffic Control (ATC) radars raised by the Air Force. IAF will now get the ‘ATCR-33S SRE’, all weather ATC radar manufactured by BEL. The ‘ATCR-33S SRE’ is an S band Air Traffic Control. Radar which is suitable for Terminal Control Applications (TCA). The radar is extremely accurate and versatile thus guaranteeing hinder free operations across IAF bases. The radar works has two beam riders, with the S Band beam rider acting as the primary rider and the L Band beam rider acting as the auxiliary beam rider. The radar enjoys an operational range of 130 kilometres.

   The Air defense squadrons of the IAF have received a shot in the arm with the DAC clearing the induction of 7 additional Akash SAM batteries under a US $700 million   deal. IAF is currently operating 8 squadrons of Akash missiles, with each squadron comprising of 8 Akash missile launchers plus the support systems consisting the radar ground control and resupply wagon. The L&T facility in Coimbatore is currently capable of manufacturing nearly 360 missiles per year. The government is also considering of ramping up the production with more than 3000 missiles under order and with the product lining for export to other friendly nations the production sure needs a boost.   

  The Navy has received a lesser share of the pie as against the trend this time around. DAC has approved navy’s plan for operating harbour tugs in an estimated 300 crore deal. DAC has cleared the path for acquiring 8 Chetak helicopters for the navy. Even though these platforms were introduced in the late 60’s, these are still in at the HAL line for the armed forces. The plans to acquire the multi-role helicopters have been stalled after scam charges were made against the bidders.

   With the P 75 project nearing completion the government is venturing all options to open up the bids for the P 75I tender at the earliest. DAC has in principle accepted to speed up the process and has demanded to be briefed in the following meetings.

   DAC has also cleared Army’s proposal for the construction of multiple short span reinforced steel bridges in collaboration with L&T across Kashmir. These bridges once completed will guarantee faster movement of the forces, hence enhancing the response time. The proposal for acquiring UAV raised by the Army has been left untouched and is to be addressed in the coming meetings.

Edit - Karthik Kakoor

The backbone of IAF transport fleet : Mi-17

 The Medium Multi role Mi-17 Helicopter

    Regarded one of the best transport helicopters, the Mi 17 is surely the most versatile and strategic asset. Designed in 1977 as a troop transport helicopter for the Soviet forces, the Mi17 soon evolved to a versatile heptor capable of handling multi-role missions and being extremely nimble on the battlefield. More than 12000 air-frame today serve across the world and have seen extensive action. The Mi-17 is undoubtedly the backbone for all copter oriented transport missions of the Indian Air Force (IAF). The Mi-17 was first procured by the IAF in the late 70’s, when India was offered the Mi-8 transport helicopter.   

      The Mi-17 was develop around the Mi-8 medium transport copter and received major boost to its lift capabilities. The Mi-17’s were provided with more powerful engines and reinforced air-frame which could support heavier payload and operate at higher altitudes. The copter was also designed to carry external wet pylons which could carry missiles. The main rotors were re-designed and larger rotors were introduced to support heavier payloads, the tail rotor was also re-designed and re-positioned towards the port side.

    Powered by twin Kilmov engines the helicopter can carry up to thirty war ready soldiers or four tonne of cargo. The twin Kilmov engines churn out 1600 kW and can power the copter to a maximum speed of 250 km/hour. The Mi-17 can traverse more than 500 kilometer at standard set up mode and enjoys a laudable 200 kilometer combat radius when operating at maximum operational load.

      The Mi-17 V5 not only serve as transport helicopters but can also be used as an attack copter, thanks to the offensive punch it packs with the guided rockets and guns. The attack capability will be a major morale booster for the soldiers deployed on the battlefield. Mi 17 is fitted with 30mm gun pod and 60mm unguided rockets which can spell havoc over enemy targets. The Mi 17 fleet under IAF, employees a meticulously combined system compromising of the cannon and rockets. Mi-17 is also provided with conformal fuel tank which is a boost in increasing the operational range of the copters.

      Owing to their huge size, the Mi-17’s are sitting ducks waiting to be fired upon by enemy SAM batteries and shoulder fired missiles. But this has been meticulously worked out by equipping the copter with advanced countermeasure suites which can evade and out manoeuvre missiles. Information regarding the exact counter measure remains to be extremely skeptical, Russian Mi 17 has been spotted gearing the Ukrainian made ADROS counter measure systems which are part of the Indian Mi-35 attack helicopter fleet. The Indian version of the Mi 17 is rumored to be fitted with the Israeli made C-MUSIC directional counter measure systems, this DIRCM is capable of engaging infrared guided missiles.

       India currently operates more than 150 Mi 8 and nearly 70 Mi-17 V5 copters. The Mi-8 airframes are rapidly aging and a replacement is the need of the hour for the transport wing of IAF.  IAF has now come with an ambitious plan of replacing the Mi-8’s with advanced Mi-17’s which can be rapidly inducted into the air force. By 2008 India had concluded a contract with Russia to supply 80 Mi 17 helicopters under a deal estimated at $1.4 billion. The first set of five Mi 17 V5 helicopters was delivered to India in early 2012, impressed with the performance of these beasts India opted for a follow on order for 71 more Mi-17 helicopters at a whooping $1.3 billion deal. IAF is contemplating of procuring 48 more helicopters at an estimated $1 billion dollar deal.

     The Mi-17’s are highly regarded in the IAF for their capabilities and ruggedness. The Mi-17 was used initially in the ‘Kargil operation’ to ferry troops to front-line but was later pulled off taking into account the higher position of the enemies. The Mi-17 has been efficiently used in humanitarian missions supported by the IAF. These Mi-17s have served as the backbone for all rescue missions operated by the IAF.  Mi-17 was also part of the ‘Cross-border special operation’ carried out by the 21st Para contingent.  The Mi-17 V5 copters are also used to ferry the Indian President and the Prime Minister proving the level of confidence put into the aircraft by India. Thus the addition of Mi-17 to the force is a major boost to the operational capability of IAF.

Editor Karthik Kakoor 

Operation Maitri - Restoring and Rebuilding Nepal

 Operation Maitri – Rebuilding Nepal

   At around 12’0 on 25th the April, the earth shook in Nepal and across northern and eastern India. Nepal was struck by a 7.8 magnitude earth quake which reduced the nation to rubble's, Eastern India bear the brunt with the several buildings across Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and West Bengal. The earth quake triggered avalanches across the Himalayan range. Landslides were witnesses and major roads were taken out.

       Aftershocks continued for several days, the highest measuring almost up to 7.1 on the Richter scale. The earth quake had left a trail of destruction and several villages across Nepal were left inaccessible. Going by the magnitude of the earthquake it was sure that the casualties suffered in the calamity was very high and the rescue missions were the need of the hour.

      Nepal was overwhelmed by the scale of destruction and with a limited military and para-military force was forced to look out for a multi-nation rescue operation. Being Nepal’s immediate neighbor India responded with in minutes to the request. PM Modi promised a full scale rescue mission would be mounted within the shortest possible span.

        It was decided that the immediate response team would consist of rescue and medical teams which were formed by the NDRF and Ghurkha regiment officers. The first C-130J carrying NDRF officials and 3 tonnes of medical and emergency supplies took off by 4:00 PM. Air force, Army and NDRF assets were immediately put on standby for any eventuality. GOI planned further missions once the airport in Nepal was declared safe for operations.

      The NDRF was charged with carrying out the rescue and relief mission and the army was charged with setting up facilities for relief operations. By the evening ten teams from the NDRF consisting of almost 500 personnel and sniffer dogs were ordered to be flown to Nepal with the assistance of IAF. With the KTM airport being declared safe for operations, IAF rolled out the gigantic C-17 Globe master III.

     The C-17 on the first day was dispatched to KTM with NDRF teams, Rapid Action Medical Teams (RAMT) and Medical teams. The aircraft also carried essential supplies which consisted of blankets, food packets, water, medical supplies, tents and transportable operation theaters for the RAMT. The IL-76 heavy lifters were also pressed into action. By the first day Indian Air Force had carried out more than 20 sorties and had evacuated thousands of survivors which included citizens from US, UK and many other nations.

      IAF had operated sorties throughout the night flying to and fro from KTM. By the second day the operation was officially code named “Operation Maitri “, IAF by then had pressed more than 10 aircraft into action which included the C-17 Globemaster III, IL-76, C-130J and An-32’s. Sunday morning flights were dedicated to transporting urgent medical supplies and medical teams. Engineering teams were also dispatched which were instrumental in setting up forward field hospitals and tents to accommodate the survivors.

           The second half of the day saw IAF making sorties with additional NDRF teams and engineering teams. Almost 50 tons of water and 22 tons of food supplies were stacked up in KTM airport. India also started mounting a huge scale evacuation operation and operated 35 buses from Nepal. Bad weather and repeated aftershocks forced IAF to hold back pressing the helicopters into service.




          On the ground the NDRF and the Army jawans had started searching for survivors. NDRF teams were pulling out survivors from debris. The injured were being treated in first aid centers setup across the nation. To treat the critically wounded were being taken care of in forward field hospitals which included OT’s and ICU’s.

         The engineering teams primarily started constructing as many field hospitals possible and then concentrated on pitching up tents for the survivors. The engineering team was also put in charge of clearing debris and clearing roads, which could then help gain access to remote villages. With the tents setup the army started with the process of distributing food and water to the affected and the process of rehabilitation to the centers started.

         With roads being rendered inactive many villages remained inaccessible, to access these villages IAF pitched in their helicopters. IAF initially deployed 8 Mi-17 and 2 Dhruv’s to assist in the operations. The Mi-17 and Dhruv dropped relief supplies to the worst affected valleys where landing was not possible. Several wounded and stranded people were evacuated in the helicopters from the remotest areas. Dhruv under the Army Aviation corps was also pitched into service.

      The rotary crafts served the remotest areas of Nepal and helped save thousands of injured and survivors. The Mi-17 were based at Pokhara and Kathmandu. These Mi-17’s were part of the large scale relief and rescue operations in inaccessible areas like Barpak, Gorkha, Aroghat and Lukla.

       The combined Indian forces worked in Nepal for well over 40 days. The Air force and army together flew more than 2223 sorties in a span of just 38 days. About 11200 people were transported to safer places and about 1700 tonne of relief material was dropped for people in distress. The Rapid Action Medical Teams (RAMT) cared for almost 4762 injured people and conducted more than 300 successful operations.

  
  The NDRF worked tirelessly to restore human life in Kathmandu. NDRF saved thousands of life’s even as the earth shook when they deep inside buildings. The Engineering Task Force (ETF) cleared many routes which were rendered inactive because of the quake and landslides. The ETF were instrumental in help re-connect villages which helped in relief operations. The ETF also restored several hundred buildings and bridges across the nation.

      The earth quake was the worst calamity to have struck Nepal after the 1934 earth quake. More than 9000 people lost their life and the quake left 22000 people injured. The earth quake left a trail of destruction rendering thousands of Nepali’s homeless, homes and buildings were razed to the ground. After shocks has continued to rock Nepal keeping its people in constant fear. More than 450000 people have been displaced and have lost their livelihood.

        Widespread avalanches and landslides were reported across the nation further endangering human life. The economic loss Nepal has suffered cannot be calculated at the movement but with its limited resources it is extremely hard for Nepal alone to fund reconstruction programs. US, India and the World Bank have stepped forward to assist Nepal with the rehabilitation programs. With the help of India and the world fraternity, Nepal has promised to be back on its feet. I sincerely wish Nepal regains its status and thrives as India’s most reliable neighbor.

Article - Karthik Kakoor

Apache AH 64 D Block III

Apache AH 64 D Block III

   Apache AH 64 D Block III

Another addition to the stables of the Indian Air force, it’s the American Apache attack helicopters this time which promise to annihilate the enemies at their tracks. These Apache’s will be replacing the Soviet era attack helicopter the Mi 35 Hind. The deal was in turbulent waters since the last decade and has finally arrived at a solution after much delay. IN the mean time owing to the delays an MLU was signed to modernise the aging Mi’s. They were provided with additional upgrades which concentrated mainly on the avionics, the Mi’s received new sensor suites and DIRCM countermeasure suites owing to these upgrades the Mi’s are battle ready till 2025. The void left by these attach helicopters is huge and the Apache’s promise to fill this cap efficiently thus serving as the back bone for any offensive operations in the future.

When the tenders were floated for procuring a rotary attack platform the Apache and Mi 28 were the forerunners for the program. Apache’s state of the art The Apache ruled out the Russian attack helicopter Mi 28, with its superior performance and network. US has offered India the latest generation AH 64 D Longbow Block III series helicopters, which is also called as AH 64E. The Apache are one of the best products to be rolled out from the Boeing lines, there are nearly two thousand Apache’s serving nearly fifteen other nations throughout the globe.Though the Apache’s will be charged with providing CAS to the army they will still be operated under the IAF and will not be joining the Army aviation corps.

The current deal between the US and Indian government aims to field twenty two Apache helicopter under the Air force. India along with the helicopters will receive fifty additional engines, 1500 Hell fire missiles for anti armour operation, 250 Stinger missiles which will counter the aerial threats. India will also be provided with 12 addition fire control radar and 22 night vision equipments. The total deal is calculated to cost around $1.2 billion.

The Defence Ministry has also taken inputs from the Indian Army to raise a separate squadron of attack helicopters lead by AH 64 and the home grown LCH and ALH Rudra, Rudraarmed with unguided rockets have already been delivered to Army Aviation.

The AH 64 E is capable of guiding unmanned aerial vehicles from itself, the WCO can operate  any of the UAV's under the army, and can also uses its advanced JTDIS to guide the Artillery's to fire with pin point accuracy.


Apache is capable to fly low, and is an all weather helicopter that can make sorties even in the worst conditions. Equipped with state of the art Electronic countermeasures and defensive suites, any threats standing against these copters can be neutralized with a moment’s notice. The Infrared warning systems help Apache to carry out night missions without any major hindrance. Apache also uses thermal and IR camera, these technologies help the Apache serve as an eye in the sky. Apache's formed the first wave of attack in operation Desert Storm, flying low they destroyed several Iraqi early warning Radar sites.

       The deal will be finalized during the visit of Secretary of Defense, USA , Ash Carter. Boeing will deliver the helicopters by 2018 and the Apache's promise to be a force multiplier providing the crucial CAS to the infantry. 

Editor- Karthik Kakoor