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

Once again, the delayed Light Utility Helicopter deal

Once again, the delayed Light Utility Helicopter deal

    The Armed forces using modified French designed Alouette helicopters for utility purposes, the Helicopter later entered into serial production in India, those helicopters are inducted into Indian armed forces early 1970's, the major operator is the Navy and Air force, Utility helicopters must for every armed forces, where they can be used for many missions, include war time operations like resupply and light reconnaissance, those  helicopters are best in earlier days, contributed very well during major wartime and peacetime,  now more than decades those helicopters must be replaced with newer helicopters.

    Currently more than 300 such helicopters used by the armed forces and still HAL producing some units for coast guard and other para military units, however those helicopter lacks some modern technologies which can be used in front line operations, and the Army also wanted such light helicopters for utility purpose, they don't want the older Chetaks they asked much modern version Helicopters, their numbers should come hundreds, and the other para military units also asked the government to buy some light helicopters for utility purpose,

    So the Government announces a Light utility helicopter contract, involving global vendors, at first the numbers are some 200 helicopters, the governments sticks because of large order major number of Helicopters should be produced in India under transfer of Technology, the first such contract announced early 2009, and many foreign companies offered their light helicopters, however the government cancelled the tender without mentioning the issues, after heavy voices from Armed forces the government once again floated the same RFP, the same saga repeats, Government cancelled the tender.

Early 2014, the Armed forces raises it's concerns about replace those vintage Chetak and Cheetah variants from service, which means more than 200 such helicopters needs to be replaced, and they sticks with the same requirement what the army and other paramilitary forces suggested for utility purpose, so mass producing single model helicopters can save logistics costs and maintenance issues, and told the Ministry that combined order of some 400 light helicopters needed for Armed forces, thus makes another RFP of Light Utility deal in 2015,

    The New government takes some positive steps, under new defense procurement procedures and direct involvement of private defense sectors into the defense industry, under the new RFP, government says the selected contender should join with Indian private company to mass produce those helicopters in India, which include Indian spares parts.

   The new huge order brings the French Airbus, American Bell and Russian Kamov bit closer, all of them offered their products, and the Government and armed forces shortlisted Russian Kamov and selected its modern Ka 226 T, meantime Reliance already made an agreement with the Kamov to manufacture those helicopter in India,

   The Ka 226 T is selected  in many reasons, from Engines to it's high altitude performance and it's retractable troop sitting cabin, which can be removed and to be used to lift high amount of cargo, and the Kamov don't have the tail rotor, makes sufficient for operating forward bases in high altitude bases like Siachin and Leh, the announcement made just after the Aero India.

   However till now the contract can't be made with Kamov, Reliance already informed the government that they ready to build the helicopters under license and already setup-ed infrastructures, they just need the orders and contract only before producing those helicopters in mass numbers, and still now the agreement and contract hasn't been signed with Kamov and Reliance, and they announced that they will roles out helicopters within ten months once the contract is signed,

Airbus and Mahindra Jointly proposes EC 725 for Navy

Airbus and Mahindra Jointly proposes EC 725 for Navy

    The French firm Airbus and the Indian Private company Mahindra's subsidiary Mahindra Defense Jointly Proposes EC 725 Caracal for Naval utility Helicopter Tender, Recently the Navy selects the American firm Sirkosky to supply 16+8 Naval multi role Helicopters to the Navy's front line war Ship, who runs without proper heliborne SONAR or ASW crafts.

   The Indian Navy operates  nearly 40 of French made HAL built Chetaks  helicopters for Naval multi role support, which is almost vintage as same as the Army operating, where that tender was again and again floated and canceled, they did that more than three times. the Same Navy also wants to replace those Chetak Helicopters from it's fleet by inducting more advanced Naval utility Helicopters, 

    Back in the 2012, the Navy float a Tender to acquire 56 Naval Multirole Helicopters for nearly some $ 1 Billions, which is under direct sale through RFP ,but no Make in India and Tot will be added with that contract, and the DAC cancels the same tender by 2014, when the Coast Guard also raised flag by their aging  Chetaks needed to be replaced, so DAC plans to float a Tender which can be replace all those Chetak helicopters from the Naval and Coast guard fleet, that numbers crosses more than Hundred, so it's better to make a contract under Make in India program,

     After PM went France and Airbus Industry, He were toured to the EC 725 Helicopter one of the largest Naval Utility Aircraft can also be used as a Troop transporter, basically good for Both naval and Air purpose, and the Airbus formally announces that they were interested to participate the Naval Utility Tender under Make in India Movement.

       The Airbus Just released a note about the Joint venture of Airbus and Mahindra Defense that both were almost in Agreement level to initiate a Company in India to build Helicopters in India. both were not disclosed the amount of partnership.  as per Airbus they says " The joint venture will be dedicated to supplying the Indian Armed Forces with Made-in-India, state-of-the-art helicopters of high reliability, quality and safety standard based on combat-proven platforms.”

       Airbus not only mentioned about the Naval Utility Helicopters,the also sounded about the canceled Army's 197 LUH tender, and the Naval Multi role Helicopter, where the S 70 already selected over the Airbus NH 90. 

     Mahindra is also not a new to Aerospace sector, where they have more than 2,00,000 employees all over the world, and have a Aerospace facility in Australia, where one is used to produced medium planes, and they almost near to completion of  their second unit in Bangalore. Mahindra designed four Planes, and one with NAL ( National Aerospace Limited ) for testing purpose, and in special, Mahindra Airvan has more than 210 units flying all over the world,

      So both seems good in Track record, and if the JV went successful, both Navy and Army gets good number of Helicopters from Indian Market, with discounted price, The Navy expected to float the LUH Tender again by 2016, So it's needed both will inaugurate the JV soon.

    The EC 725 is a Good Helicopter can be used from Sea shores, with the Heavy in size, the Helicopter gets more than 900 kilometers, with the full load and speed of some 300 kilometers.It comes with two 12.7 mm Machine gun for close support and Anti piracy operations, also can launch two exocet Anti ship cruise missile for Anti Shipping mission.

The Light Utility Helicopter Deal

The Light Utility Helicopter Deal

 

          The Indian armed forces can boost of extremely advanced aircraft under the service but when it comes to the rotary crafts the word “Technology “needs to be questioned. The main stay of our armed forces under the rotary force is HAL manufactured Cheetah and the Chetak. The forces currently operate more than 500 of this rotary force. Manufactured from 1975 under the licence from Aerospatiale these forces have reached their shelve life and time and again have received numerous upgrades.  These helicopters have been in service for more than a span of 35 years. Right 2005 the armed forces have been demanding for a formidable replacement to these platforms that are a crucial part of any operation.

        The Army Aviation corps which is operating around 108 of these helicopters had asked for an replacement. The Army Aviation corps was allotted the ALH Dhurv as replacements for Chetak. With the crucial missions like Armed Reconnaissance mission, Support mission to ground Troops, Re supply, EVAC charged to the Army Aviation corps. Since the replacement has been bought no significant process has been made in this regard. The procurement has been announcing around in the MoD with several cases of scams being unearthed in this deal alone.

        The Navy operates around 55 of these helicopters. The navy has put in these helicopters for replenishing of ships, EVAC along with reconnaissance missions. These platforms have been extensively used for SAR role during Natural disasters. Even though navy insisted on clubbing the orders with the Army corps a deal was never signed.  The navy had now signed a deal for 16 Anti Submarine Helicopter S 70 from Sirkosky which would serve aboard naval platforms like the Destroyers and Frigates.

      The Indian Air force is also a major operator of Chetak and Cheetah. The Air force variant was armed with cannon and two guided anti tank missiles to give close Air support to the Army. But with advanced systems available with the enemy the present day battlefield have rendered these helicopters obsolete.

       With several key private players in the field of these rotary aircraft the government has now implemented the “Make in India’ which would effectively help in fast tracking the procurement of these aircraft. The government has now initiated the process where in a foreign operator would start a JV with an Indian firm to manufacture these rotary aircraft in India.

          The Air bus groups has now come forwards with the AS 555 design and the more sophisticated EC 725 to be made available to the Indian forces. The AS 555 is required to meet the original requirement of Light utility helicopter but the EC 725 is more than a Light Utility but it also fills the gap in the crucial role of Troop transport, which is a key requirement for Maritime Multirole Helicopters.  The government is now looking into this key field of LUH and MUH heli’s. The Russian Kamov Ka 226T is also in competition for the LUH tender.





         Any major decisions in this regard are now pending and a speedy and swift reaction would really be commended by the forces.

The Indian Airforce Cheetah