India Helicopter Programs

Nilgiri · Nov 23, 2020

Exclusive Interview: S Anbuvelan, CEO HAL, Helicopter Complex

Indian state-owned airframer, Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) is the sole Indian designer and manufacturer of indigenously developed helicopters. Starting f

gbp.com.sg

Indian state-owned airframer, Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) is the sole Indian designer and manufacturer of indigenously developed helicopters. Starting from the Dhruv Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH) programme in the late eighties to the current Light Combat Helicopter (LCH) and Light Utility Helicopter (LUH) programmes, HAL is confident of meeting all Indian armed forces requirements for helicopters in the future.

Atul Chandra spoke with S Anbuvelan, CEO HAL, Helicopter Complex to obtain the latest developments regarding Indian rotorcraft developments.

Edited excerpts from the interview:

What is the status of current orders for Dhruv?

Currently, HAL is executing an order for delivery of 72 helicopters for the Indian armed forces and Indian Coast Guard (ICG). The orders are for delivery of 40 Dhruv MkIII helicopters for the Indian Army (IA), 16 Dhruv MkIII helicopters for the ICG and 16 Dhruv MkIII helicopters for the Indian Navy (IN).

Out of the 40-helicopter order for the Indian Army – 22 are Dhruv Mark III utility helicopters and the remaining 18 are what we call as Weapon System Integrated (WSI) or ‘Rudra’ armed helicopters. HAL has completed production of the 22 utility helicopters ordered by the Army, ahead of the contracted delivery schedule. Out of the remaining order of 18 WSI helicopters, we have completed six helicopters.

As of October 1st week, I can tell you that the build of helicopters of 38 helicopters for IA, ICG and IN is over and we have completed their production. The remaining 34 helicopters will be completed by HAL in the middle of 2022-23.

Is HAL expecting more orders for Dhruv helicopters?

We definitely anticipate more orders for Dhruv as the performance of this helicopter has been very well appreciated by the Indian armed forces. We expect additional orders for Dhruv from IA, Indian Air Force (IAF), ICG and IN. We expect that ICG will order nine additional helicopters and we are expecting repeat orders from the IN as well.

From the IA, we have an indication that they will require 23 additional helicopters. The IAF is also expected to order another 20 Dhruv helicopters. We expect that these orders will be finalised in the next 2-3 years. On Sept. 29, we also celebrated the production of the 300th ALH.

Here at HAL, we are positive that taking all current and future orders into account, for all variants (including civil), production of Dhruv helicopters will touch the 500 mark.

Is HAL working on a civilian variant of Dhruv, based on the MkIII variant?

Yes. The civil helicopter market in India is still at nascent stage, but it is growing. We see a good potential for a Dhruv Civil variant in this market. While Dhruv Mk-I version is DGCA certified, we are preferring to offer to the Indian market a new more advanced and upgraded version of Dhruv that will be closer to the Mk-III version. This helicopter will have a modern glass cockpit and be powered by a Safran Helicopter Engines TM 333 2B2 engine.

We are presently building one helicopter as a demonstrator and will go for ground runs soon. The Dhruv Civil variant will also need to undergo some 50 hours of flight testing, which is required in order to meet DGCA regulations. So, by beginning of 2021, we are planning to have the upgraded Dhruv Civil variant complete certification and be ready for production. This will help us meet future civilian requirements for Dhruv.

Kindly elaborate on the indigenous content of HAL built helicopters.

At present, the indigenous content on Dhruv Mk-III helicopter is around 60 percent and we are progressively trying to increase it. However, it is a global practice by aircraft manufacturers to source Line Replaceable Units (LRU) from companies who have economies of scale and a global supply chain.

Regards the import of subsystems, we can now look at their indigenization for component level capability or subsystem level capability. We are gearing up towards this and in fact are trying to develop a local ecosystem within India. We are already identifying vendors who will be capable of developing some of the systems on their own. Some of the systems for helicopters such as specialised systems especially related to weapons and mission systems is likely to take time. But someday we will be in a position to indigenize these items as well.

Over the years, we have successfully developed a number of vendors and today almost 80 percent of the components involved in the manufacturing of Dhruv helicopter are being outsourced by HAL.

kaykay · Nov 24, 2020

Exclusive preview: The Indian Navy and Coast Guard’s ALH ‘Dhruv’ Mk-III helicopters

We got an advance look at the coastal security Mark-III Dhruv Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH) destined for the Indian Navy and Coast Guard.

verticalmag.com

kaykay · Nov 24, 2020

HAL Dhruv's naval variant with nose mounted surveillance radar and other stuffs.

kaykay · Nov 24, 2020

Test7 · Nov 26, 2020

Ka-226T Helicopters for India to Fly in 2021

KA-226T fuselage being built @Russian Helicopters

Prototype Ka-226T helicopters meant for India will fly in the first half of 2021, according to Leonid Belykh, managing director of the Ulan-Ude aircraft plant (U-UAZ) of Russian Helicopters holding.
"Now we are focused on the manufacture of fuselages and machine assemblies for various tests, but in parallel we are working on the creation of prototypes of the Ka-226T helicopter, which we expect to fly into the air in the first half of 2021," said Belykh, who was quoted as saying by Interfax which referred the statement to the Press service of Russian Helicopters.

A complete set of design documentation, taking into account all the requirements of the Indian Ministry of Defense, will be transferred to the plant by the end of the year, Belykh is reported as saying.
At the moment, U-UAZ has manufactured the first two fuselages of the Ka-226T light multi-purpose helicopter for India. By the end of 2020, U-UAZ will assemble a number of stands and assemblies of the Ka-226T helicopter for static, dynamic and resource tests.

in September, a slipway for the general assembly of the helicopter fuselage was manufactured and installed, in which already manufactured units are laid: the bottom of the cockpit, the middle and central fuselage compartments, tail booms and tail assembly.

In September 2020, a slipway for the general assembly of the helicopter fuselage was manufactured and installed, in which already manufactured units are laid: the bottom of the cockpit, the middle and central fuselage compartments, tail booms and tail assembly.

An intergovernmental agreement between Russia and India on cooperation in the field of helicopter construction was signed in 2015. However, the contract for 200 Ka-226T helicopters with a total estimated value of $1 billion has not yet been concluded.

In February 2019, Deputy Prime Minister Yuri Borisov announced that the start of production of the Ka-226T jointly with India is scheduled for 2021.

According to the agreement signed in 2015, the Russian Helicopters holding organizes deliveries to India and the localization of production in this country of the Russian Ka-226T helicopter and its modifications in the amount of 200 units, of which at least 140 machines will be produced at the facilities of the joint venture in India.

The agreement also provides for the maintenance, operation, repair of helicopters and the provision of their technical support.
It is planned that the production of the Ka-226T for the Indian customer at the first stage will be carried out in Ulan-Ude, and then gradually transferred to the site of the Russian-Indian joint venture Indo-Russian Helicopters Limited in India. Currently, the Ka-226T is produced at the Kumertau Aviation Enterprise (KumAPP) in Bashkiria.

The light twin-engine Ka-226T with coaxial rotors has a maximum take-off weight of 3.6 tons. It is designed for aerial reconnaissance, target designation, patrolling, cargo transportation (up to 1500 kg), transportation and landing of reconnaissance and sabotage groups of up to 7 people.
Modules of various configurations can be installed on the Ka-226T, thanks to which it can be converted into a patrol, search and rescue, medical, transport-cargo, passenger or corporate helicopter.

Zapper · Nov 30, 2020

Test7 said:
Ka-226T Helicopters for India to Fly in 2021

KA-226T fuselage being built @Russian Helicopters

Prototype Ka-226T helicopters meant for India will fly in the first half of 2021, according to Leonid Belykh, managing director of the Ulan-Ude aircraft plant (U-UAZ) of Russian Helicopters holding.
"Now we are focused on the manufacture of fuselages and machine assemblies for various tests, but in parallel we are working on the creation of prototypes of the Ka-226T helicopter, which we expect to fly into the air in the first half of 2021," said Belykh, who was quoted as saying by Interfax which referred the statement to the Press service of Russian Helicopters.

A complete set of design documentation, taking into account all the requirements of the Indian Ministry of Defense, will be transferred to the plant by the end of the year, Belykh is reported as saying.
At the moment, U-UAZ has manufactured the first two fuselages of the Ka-226T light multi-purpose helicopter for India. By the end of 2020, U-UAZ will assemble a number of stands and assemblies of the Ka-226T helicopter for static, dynamic and resource tests.

in September, a slipway for the general assembly of the helicopter fuselage was manufactured and installed, in which already manufactured units are laid: the bottom of the cockpit, the middle and central fuselage compartments, tail booms and tail assembly.

In September 2020, a slipway for the general assembly of the helicopter fuselage was manufactured and installed, in which already manufactured units are laid: the bottom of the cockpit, the middle and central fuselage compartments, tail booms and tail assembly.

An intergovernmental agreement between Russia and India on cooperation in the field of helicopter construction was signed in 2015. However, the contract for 200 Ka-226T helicopters with a total estimated value of $1 billion has not yet been concluded.

In February 2019, Deputy Prime Minister Yuri Borisov announced that the start of production of the Ka-226T jointly with India is scheduled for 2021.

According to the agreement signed in 2015, the Russian Helicopters holding organizes deliveries to India and the localization of production in this country of the Russian Ka-226T helicopter and its modifications in the amount of 200 units, of which at least 140 machines will be produced at the facilities of the joint venture in India.

The agreement also provides for the maintenance, operation, repair of helicopters and the provision of their technical support.
It is planned that the production of the Ka-226T for the Indian customer at the first stage will be carried out in Ulan-Ude, and then gradually transferred to the site of the Russian-Indian joint venture Indo-Russian Helicopters Limited in India. Currently, the Ka-226T is produced at the Kumertau Aviation Enterprise (KumAPP) in Bashkiria.

The light twin-engine Ka-226T with coaxial rotors has a maximum take-off weight of 3.6 tons. It is designed for aerial reconnaissance, target designation, patrolling, cargo transportation (up to 1500 kg), transportation and landing of reconnaissance and sabotage groups of up to 7 people.
Modules of various configurations can be installed on the Ka-226T, thanks to which it can be converted into a patrol, search and rescue, medical, transport-cargo, passenger or corporate helicopter.

MoD should scrap both Ka-226 and AK-203 deal since Naval Dhruv and LUH can fulfill the helo requirement while SSS Defence can provide their P72 series rifles

Madokafc · Nov 30, 2020

Test7 said:
Ka-226T Helicopters for India to Fly in 2021

KA-226T fuselage being built @Russian Helicopters

Prototype Ka-226T helicopters meant for India will fly in the first half of 2021, according to Leonid Belykh, managing director of the Ulan-Ude aircraft plant (U-UAZ) of Russian Helicopters holding.
"Now we are focused on the manufacture of fuselages and machine assemblies for various tests, but in parallel we are working on the creation of prototypes of the Ka-226T helicopter, which we expect to fly into the air in the first half of 2021," said Belykh, who was quoted as saying by Interfax which referred the statement to the Press service of Russian Helicopters.

A complete set of design documentation, taking into account all the requirements of the Indian Ministry of Defense, will be transferred to the plant by the end of the year, Belykh is reported as saying.
At the moment, U-UAZ has manufactured the first two fuselages of the Ka-226T light multi-purpose helicopter for India. By the end of 2020, U-UAZ will assemble a number of stands and assemblies of the Ka-226T helicopter for static, dynamic and resource tests.

in September, a slipway for the general assembly of the helicopter fuselage was manufactured and installed, in which already manufactured units are laid: the bottom of the cockpit, the middle and central fuselage compartments, tail booms and tail assembly.

In September 2020, a slipway for the general assembly of the helicopter fuselage was manufactured and installed, in which already manufactured units are laid: the bottom of the cockpit, the middle and central fuselage compartments, tail booms and tail assembly.

An intergovernmental agreement between Russia and India on cooperation in the field of helicopter construction was signed in 2015. However, the contract for 200 Ka-226T helicopters with a total estimated value of $1 billion has not yet been concluded.

In February 2019, Deputy Prime Minister Yuri Borisov announced that the start of production of the Ka-226T jointly with India is scheduled for 2021.

According to the agreement signed in 2015, the Russian Helicopters holding organizes deliveries to India and the localization of production in this country of the Russian Ka-226T helicopter and its modifications in the amount of 200 units, of which at least 140 machines will be produced at the facilities of the joint venture in India.

The agreement also provides for the maintenance, operation, repair of helicopters and the provision of their technical support.
It is planned that the production of the Ka-226T for the Indian customer at the first stage will be carried out in Ulan-Ude, and then gradually transferred to the site of the Russian-Indian joint venture Indo-Russian Helicopters Limited in India. Currently, the Ka-226T is produced at the Kumertau Aviation Enterprise (KumAPP) in Bashkiria.

The light twin-engine Ka-226T with coaxial rotors has a maximum take-off weight of 3.6 tons. It is designed for aerial reconnaissance, target designation, patrolling, cargo transportation (up to 1500 kg), transportation and landing of reconnaissance and sabotage groups of up to 7 people.
Modules of various configurations can be installed on the Ka-226T, thanks to which it can be converted into a patrol, search and rescue, medical, transport-cargo, passenger or corporate helicopter.

Woods?

crixus · Nov 30, 2020

kaykay said:
View attachment 7130

Any idea about which rada they are using?

Zapper · Nov 30, 2020

crixus said:
Any idea about which rada they are using?

Nilgiri · Jan 24, 2021

HAL to ship three Light Combat Helicopters earlier than March 31

The Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) is scheduled to ship the primary batch of three indigenous Light Combat Helicopters (LCH) to

thegreaterindia.in

The Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) is scheduled to ship the primary batch of three indigenous Light Combat Helicopters (LCH) to Army and Air Force earlier than March 31, a defence official mentioned. They are a part of the 15 Limited Series Production (LSP) LCH helicopters accepted by the Defence Acquisition Council (DAC).

“HAL has received the Letter of Intent from Army and Air Force. Once the order is given, it will deliver the remaining 12 helicopters of the LSP in the next financial year,” the supply mentioned.

Early this month, the Defence Ministry mentioned in its annual report the contracts for the procurement of the LCH from HAL, extra Harop (P-IV) loitering drones from Israel and improve of Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAV) in service are “likely to be signed in the first quarter of 2021”.

The Army variant of the Light Utility Helicopter (LUH), which has accomplished all exams and likewise demonstrated its high-altitude functionality in sizzling and excessive climate situations final September, is scheduled to obtain its Initial Operational Clearance (IOC) on the Aero India. “The Acceptance of Necessity (AoN) for 12 LUH from DAC is also in the pipeline,” the official mentioned. HAL can be planning to develop a civilian model of the LUH.

With a spread of helicopters within the smaller vary, HAL is engaged on a 12-tonne Indian Multi-Role Helicopter (IMRH) as a alternative for the MI-17 helicopters in service. The Army and the Air Force are figuring out the Service Quality Requirements (SQR), the supply mentioned.

The LCH and the LUCH together with the weaponised Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH) might be showcased contained in the Indian pavilion at Aero India to showcase the vary of indigenous growth.

The LUH is a three-tonne helicopter positioned as alternative for the Cheetah and Chetak helicopters. According to HAL, it’s able to flying at 220 kmph, service ceiling of 6.5 km and a spread of 350 km with 500 kg payload.

kaykay · Mar 23, 2021

Indigenous light choppers get go-ahead, delivery in 2022

The LUH is a homegrown success story, having demonstrated its capability of operating in all kinds of environments, with a focus on high altitude missions that are essential for maintaining troops on the Pakistan and China border.

m.economictimes.com

India is going ahead with an indigenous light utility helicopter (LUH) after it proved it worth during high altitude operations, including at the Daulat Beg Oldie (DBO) airstrip on the China border. The defence ministry has given the go ahead for placing an order for 12 of the choppers, with developer and manufacturer Hindustan Aeronautics NSE -1.37 % Limited (HAL) expected to deliver the first by August next year.

The LUH is a homegrown success story, having demonstrated its capability of operating in all kinds of environments, with a focus on high altitude missions that are essential for maintaining troops on the Pakistan and China border.

HAL Chairman R Madhavan told ET that the letter of acceptance for 12 helicopters – six each for the army and air force – has been received and work has started to produce the aircraft. “The LoA has been received and we plan to deliver the first helicopter by next year. The production facility at Tumkur is ready and we will manufacture the choppers there,” he said.

The LUH order is a boost for the Make in India initiative, given that the chopper has been fully designed and developed in house by HAL, borrowing on the expertise gained by older platforms like the Advanced Light Helicopter.

While 12 helicopters are to be ordered in the first lot, the expected requirement of the LUH within the services is pegged at 185. In addition, India and Russia have also been negotiating a deal for the Kamov Ka 226 helicopters for the army and air force to fulfil the large needs of such type of aircraft.

The LUH will progressively replace the Chetak and Cheetah helicopters that operate at impossible heights on the border, including the Siachen glacier. Given its new design, the LUH can carry more than eight times the meaningful payload to the highest helipads in the world, as compared to the Cheetahs.

The indigenous chopper has gone through rigorous trials and tests by the services, including at forward helipads on the border. These include test missions from Leh to both the China and Pakistan borders. It has also demonstrated a flawless flight from Bangalore to Leh, a distance of over 3000 km, in three days without any servicing issues.