Massive military helicopter buys allow for indigenisation

Gestart door jurrien visser (JuVi op Twitter), 06/06/2012 | 07:52 uur

jurrien visser (JuVi op Twitter)

Indian Navy Selects Sikorsky's S-70B SEAHAWK Aircraft for Multi-role Helicopter Requirement

By PR Newswire / December 5, 2014 

STRATFORD, Conn., Dec. 5, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- India's Navy has selected Sikorsky Aircraft Corp., a subsidiary of United Technologies Corp. (NYSE: UTX), to fulfill the service's Multi-Role Helicopter requirement for anti-submarine and anti-surface warfare (ASW/ASuW), among other maritime roles. Negotiations will now begin to procure 16 S-70B SEAHAWK® helicopters, with an option for eight additional aircraft, along with a complete logistics support and training program. 

The Indian Navy has selected Sikorsky's S-70B SEAHAWK(R) helicopter to fulfill the service's Multi-Role Helicopter requirement for anti-submarine and anti-surface warfare.

"India's selection of the S-70B helicopter represents a major strategic win for Sikorsky in an important growth market, and positions us well for future opportunities," said Mick Maurer, President of Sikorsky Aircraft. "We look forward to a long-term collaboration with the Indian Government and local industry as we work to bring the Indian Navy the highly advanced multi-role S-70B aircraft." 

The proposed Indian Navy S-70B variant will include avionics and flexible open architecture Weapons Management Systems that integrate an advanced sonar, 360 degree search radar, modern air-to-surface missiles, and torpedoes for the ASW role. A blade and tail fold capability will facilitate shipboard storage.

The S-70B aircraft will also enhance the Indian Navy's capabilities to perform non-combat maritime roles, including search and rescue, utility and external cargo lift, surveillance and casualty evacuation.

Sikorsky has fielded increasingly more capable variants of the S-70B helicopter since 1984 for navies that prefer to acquire a modern, fully integrated ASW/ASuW platform direct from the manufacturer. Now operational in six countries (in Europe, Middle East, Asia and Latin America), the S-70B platform has a solid reputation for highly reliable shipboard operations and maintenance while operating aboard frigates and larger naval vessels.

The S-70B aircraft is part of Sikorsky's SEAHAWK helicopter family (including the SH-60 and MH-60 models) that has accumulated almost four million flight hours from more than 800 operational aircraft, and is considered one of the safest platforms available.

http://www.sys-con.com/node/3252734

jurrien visser (JuVi op Twitter)

India Confirms Chinook as Helicopter Tender Winner

NEW DELHI, December 5 (RIA Novosti) – India has preferred Boeing Chinook over Russian Mi-26 helicopters in a tender on the delivery of 15 heavy-lift helicopters to the Indian Air Force, the Indian Defense Ministry said on Wednesday.

Both the Russian upgraded Mi-26T2 Halo and the Boeing Chinook CH-47F had qualified in the technical trials and their financial bids, covering the initial acquisition cost as well as the lifecycle costs. The Indian media earlier cited cost effectiveness and after-sales service as main factors that tilted the scales in favor of the US aircraft.

"In the proposal initiated by Indian Air Force (IAF) for procurement of 15 Heavy Lift Helicopters, Boeing with Chinook Helicopter has emerged as the L1 Vendor," the ministry said in a statement.

"The Field Evaluation Trials for these Helicopters conducted by the Indian Air Force have found them to be compliant with all the stated Air Staff Qualitative Requirements (ASQRs)," the statement said.

The cost of the future contract will be determined following contract negotiations with Boeing, which are currently underway, the Indian military added.

Russia's state arms exporter Rosoboronexport has recently insisted that the outcome of the tender has not yet been determined.

Russia's traditionally strong position on the Indian arms market has been recently undermined by fierce competition with US and European companies and failures to fulfill several contracts.

Last year Russian arms exporters suffered two painful losses at Indian tenders.

Russia did not win the contract to supply 22 helicopters to India, which preferred the US AH-64D Apache to Russia's Mi-28N.

During the Medium Multi-Role Combat Aircraft (MMRCA) tender announced by the Indian Air Force to replace aging MiG-21s, the Russian MiG-35 did not even make it to the finals, where the Eurofighter Typhoon twin-engine multirole fighter lost a contract worth at least $10 billion to France's Dassault Rafale.

http://en.ria.ru/military_news/20121205/177940820.html

jurrien visser (JuVi op Twitter)

US pips Russia as 'lowest bidder' for heavy-lift 15-chopper deal

Rajat Pandit, TNN | Oct 28, 2012

NEW DELHI: The US is now all set to bag yet another mega Indian defence deal, with the iconic Boeing-manufactured Chinook heavy-lift helicopters emerging as the cheaper option than its strong contender the Russian Mi-26 choppers.

Defence ministry sources said the commercial bid for the twin-rotor Chinook, which has seen recent action in Iraq and Afghanistan, has emerged as the "L-1 (lowest bidder)" in comparison to the Mi-26 after both the huge helicopters passed the extensive technical field trials conducted by Indian Air Force (IAF).

"The present contract is for 15 such multi-mission helicopters. The Chinook bid was lower both in terms of initial direct acquisition cost as well as life cycle cost. The contract negotiation committee will now finalize the deal for the Chinook," said a source.

Known for their powerful contra-rotating tandem rotors, Chinooks are being operated by around 20 countries for heavy-lift assault, troop movement, logistics support, aerial battlefield recovery and special operations. Capable of being refuelled mid-air for extended range, a Chinook can carry 55 combat-ready troops or over 11,100 kg of logistical supplies or weight.

This is the second time that American helicopters have outclassed — both technically and commercially — their Russian counterparts in recent months. As reported earlier, India is getting ready to order 22 heavy-duty Apache attack helicopters for around $1.4 billion.

Boeing's AH-64D Apache Longbow met all ASQRs (air staff qualitative requirements) but its contender the Russian Mil Moscow Helicopter Plant's Mi-28 Havoc had failed to pass muster during the field trials held by IAF.

Overall, the Indian armed forces are looking to induct as many as 900 helicopters in the coming decade, including 440 light-utility and observation, naval multi-role (90), light combat (65), heavy-duty attack (22), medium-lift (139) and heavy-lift (15), among others. Several of these procurement and production projects are meandering through the long-winding acquisition process.

The US is increasingly bagging deals in the lucrative Indian defence market, having already notched up military sales worth over $8 billion in the last few years. These include the $4.1 billion contract for 10 C-17 Globemaster-III strategic airlift aircraft, $2.1 billion for eight P-8I maritime patrol aircraft and $962 million for six C-130J "Super Hercules" planes. Negotiations are being finalized for acquiring six more C-130J as well as four more P-8I aircraft.

There was a lot of heartburn in the US after its F-16 and F/A-18 fighters lost out to the French Rafale in the almost $20 billion MMRCA (medium multi-role combat aircraft) project to supply 126 jets to IAF, which is in the final commercial negotiations stage.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/US-pips-Russia-as-lowest-bidder-for-heavy-lift-15-chopper-deal/articleshow/16985381.cms

jurrien visser (JuVi op Twitter)

IAF's heavy-lift helicopter tender opened

Wednesday Oct 03, 2012

New Delhi, Oct 3 — The defence ministry has opened the bids of the two contestants in Indian Air Force (IAF) competition for heavy-lift helicopters and a decision would soon be taken on the winner based on the life-cycle costs.

Highly placed sources told India Strategic defence magazine (www.indiastrategic.in) that both the Russian Mi-26 and the Boeing Chinook Ch47F had qualified in the technical trials and that their financial bids, covering the initial acquisition cost as well as the lifecycle costs, were opened September-end.

The bids were opened in the presence of their representatives, and the winner would be declared based on what is known as the L-1, or the lowest bidder principle. The IAF is looking for 15 heavy-lift helicopters.

Sources said that a decision should take about a couple of months or so, unless one of the vendors has given incomplete replies for which clarifications would be required and that would add to the time needed. "Absence of replies or incomplete replies do happen, leading later to interpretation issues and disputes; so it is best to sort them out right in the beginning," the sources said.

They also said that discussions with the French manufacturer Dassault for finalising the contract for 126 Rafale medium multi-role combat aircraft (MMRCA) were being held on almost a daily basis and the contract should be finalised and signed by the end of fiscal 2012-13, that is by March 2013.

Representatives of Dassault, which makes and integrates the aircraft, and Thales and Safran (Snecma), the two companies which make the electronic warfare systems and engines respectively, have also been visiting New Delhi and Bangalore regularly for negotiations with IAF, defence ministry and Hindustan Aeronautics Limited, the lead Indian integrator. The option clause for 63 more MMRCAs would be worked out in due course of time as the negotiations progress.

Interestingly, all the aircraft deals with Russia so far have been on single-vendor, government-to-government basis, and to get a favourable decision in the case of heavy lift competition, the Russians will also have to fulfil the obligatory 30 percent offsets requirement, besides being lower in the costing. If they win, this will be the first aircraft offsets case for them.

The IAF has been using the Mi-26 helicopters for about a quarter century now, but they are outdated in technology, consume too much fuel, are expensive to maintain and their spares also are not easily available. Russia will have to produce newer units with refined technologies anyway for their own or global sales.

Lockheed Martin and Boeing of the US have won orders for 12 C-130J Super Hercules and 10 C-17 Globemaster III aircraft and in both these deals, there is a 30 perrcent offsets clause.

The suppliers are given three years to deliver the first units after a contract is signed.

(Gulshan Luthra can be contacted at gulshan.luthra@indiastrategic.in)

IANS
This article was distributed through the NewsCred Smartwire. Original article © IANS / Daily News 2012

Read more: http://india.nydailynews.com/business/22fb58c3fef41559186098b046b81df3/iafs-heavy-lift-helicopter-tender-opened#ixzz28G1uC7ol

jurrien visser (JuVi op Twitter)

India issues RFP for 56 naval light utility helicopters

By:   Greg Waldron Singapore

The Indian navy has issued a request for proposals (RFP) for 56 light utility helicopters to replace its fleet of Hindustan Aeronautics (HAL) Chetaks.

The move follows a request for information released in May 2010. It calls for aircraft with a maximum weight of 4,500kg (9,920lb), with bids due in January 2013.

The RFP, which calls for field trials in India, was issued to several major helicopter, firms including AgustaWestland, Bell Helicopter, Eurocopter and Russian Helicopters, says an industry source.

The fact that the helicopter will be used for shipboard operations could limit the navy's choices in the competition, as the type will require folding rotor blades.

At the Farnborough air show in July, HAL told Flightglobal that the challenges and expense involved in modifying its Dhruv advanced light helicopter for shipborne operations would preclude the indigenous type from the competition.

The RFP foresees the helicopter undertaking a number of roles, including search and rescue, casualty evacuation, logistics support, observation and surveillance, and electronic intelligence. It will also be required to carry light torpedoes and depth charges for prosecuting undersea targets, as well as rockets and machine guns. It also calls for a major support and simulator package.

A strong contender for the requirement is likely to be the Eurocopter AS565 MB Naval Panther (above), a military variant of the popular Dauphin. Several nations use variants of the Dauphin in naval and coast guard operations. Another contender is likely to be the AgustaWestland AW139
India has two other naval helicopter requirements. The NH Industries NH90 and Sikorksy S-70B Seahawk are competing for a 16-aircraft multi-role helicopter requirement. An industry source says a decision for this competition is imminent.

In June 2011, New Delhi issued a request for information for a 75-aircraft, naval multi-role helicopter requirement. This called for a large shipborne helicopter in the 9-12.5t class.

http://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/india-issues-rfp-for-56-naval-light-utility-helicopters-375710/

jurrien visser (JuVi op Twitter)

#4
Citaat van: Kapitein Rob op 11/08/2012 | 11:01 uur
India timmert steeds meer en behoorlijk aan de weg, Waar o.m. onze (voormalige) ontwikkelingshulp ongetwijfeld aan bij heeft gedragen.

Tja.... laten we het verhogen naar .8% van het bpn.... (doen we toch nog iets aan defensie besteding)   :sick:

KapiteinRob

India timmert steeds meer en behoorlijk aan de weg, Waar o.m. onze (voormalige) ontwikkelingshulp ongetwijfeld aan bij heeft gedragen.

jurrien visser (JuVi op Twitter)

Navy to buy 56 utility helicopters for $1bn

Rajat Pandit, TNN | Aug 11, 2012

NEW DELHI: India has set the ball rolling for another mega defence deal, worth close to $1 billion, for the acquisition of 56 naval utility helicopters customized for surveillance, anti-submarine warfare, anti-terror, electronic intelligence gathering and search and rescue operations.

The armed forces are looking to induct as many as 900 helicopters in the coming decade, including 384 light-utility and observation, 90 naval multi-role, 65 light combat, 22 heavy-duty attack, 139 medium-lift and 15 heavy-lift, among others, as was first reported by TOI earlier.

The new tender or RFP (request for proposal) for the 56 naval helicopters was issued to all top global aviation majors — ranging from Boeing, Bell and Sikorsky to Kamov, Eurocopter and AgustaWestland — last week.

"The naval utility helicopter are planned for induction from 2016 (onwards)," said Navy chief Admiral Nirmal Verma. As per the RFP, the project involves induction of the 56 choppers, three simulators, 28 spare engines and associated equipment within eight years of the inking of the contract.

The twin-engine helicopters, with a 4,500-kg maximum "all up" weight and capable of operating from warship decks, will be armed with 70mm rocket launchers and 12.7mm guns as well as lightweight torpedoes and depth charges.

With a "modern airframe design, proven fuel-efficient engines and fully-integrated advanced avionics", these new helicopters will replace the existing fleet of Chetaks inducted over three decades ago.

This is Navy's second major "rotary wing" project. The first is for around 90 multi-role helicopters in the 9 to12.5-tonne class, with potent combat capabilities as well as customized for amphibious assaults and commando operations, at a cost of over $2.5 billion to replace ageing Sea King helicopters.

But the first contract for 16 such multi-role helicopters — to be followed by the main one for over 75 choppers — has run into some trouble. European NH Industries, which deployed its NH-90 helicopters for the extensive field trials, has filed a complaint against the other contender, the American Sikorsky-70B.

"Both met the NSQRs (naval staff qualitative requirements) after the trials last year but the complaint has delayed the opening of commercial bids. It is being examined," said an official.

Another big project facing similar problems is the one for 197 light helicopters for over Rs 3,000 crore, with Russian Kamov Ka-226T pitted against Eurocopter AS 550 C3 Fennec after the technical evaluation.

Acquisition of these 197 helicopters is to be followed by the indigenous manufacture of 187 similar ones by Hindustan Aeronautics to replace the ageing Cheetah and Chetak fleets of Army and IAF.

The second contract for 71 more Russian medium-lift and weaponized Mi-17 V5 helicopters for around $1 billion, 59 for IAF and 12 for BSF, is, however, going ahead. This comes after deliveries of the first 80 Mi-17 V5s to IAF, under a $1.34-billion deal inked in 2008, began last September.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Navy-to-buy-56-utility-helicopters-for-1bn/articleshow/15441358.cms

jurrien visser (JuVi op Twitter)

Massive military helicopter buys allow for indigenisation

Ajai Shukla / New Delhi Jun 06, 2012, 00:36 IST

The Indian Air Force (IAF) purchase of 126 Rafale fighters has made global headlines, and the Indo-Russian Fifth Generation Fighter Aircraft (FGFA) could be another jaw-dropper. But Indian military aviation could see an even more prominent growth area in helicopters, where the defence services are poised to induct well over 1,000 rotary wing aircraft in the coming decade, the majority of them developed and built in the country.

Already on the anvil for the army, IAF, navy and coast guard are the following:

The IAF is inducting 139 Russian Mi-17 V-5 medium lift helicopters, for an estimated $2.4 billion. The workhorse Mi-17, which transports 26 soldiers in combat gear, or four tonnes of supplies to high altitude posts, has been in IAF service for decades, but the new-model V-5 is a vastly superior machine, with new engines, rotor blades and avionics. An IAF order for 80 Mi-17s is already being delivered, which is likely to be followed by an order for 59 more.
   
INDIA'S HELICOPTER BUYS

Type

No. of units

To be bought from

Mi-17 V-5

139

Russia

Heavy lift helicopters

15

CH-47 Chinook likely

Medium attack helicopters

22

AH-64 Apache likely

Utility twin-engine helicopters

159

HAL (Dhruv Mk III)

Naval twin-engine helicopters

50

Global market

Naval medium, multi-role

91

Global market

Weaponised utility helicopter

76

HAL (Rudra)

Light Combat Helicopter

179

HAL (LCH)

Light Utility Helicopters

197

Global market

Light Utility Helicopters

187

HAL

Source: Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL)

Fifteen American CH-47 Chinook heavy lift helicopters will be bought to replace the IAF's Russian Mi-26 helicopters, of which just three to four remain serviceable. The Chinook, built by Boeing, has seen extensive combat, most recently in Iraq and Afghanistan. The IAF has evaluated the helicopter and is pleased with its avionics and power, which allows it to accurately deliver 50 fully-equipped soldiers, or a payload of 12.7 tonnes, on to the roof of a house or the edge of a cliff.

The IAF has also completed trials for the purchase of 22 medium attack helicopters, and homed on to Boeing's AH-64 Apache. Attack helicopters, which operate from close behind the forward troops, provide immediate fire support — cannons, rockets and anti-tank missiles — to soldiers that encounter the enemy, providing them a battle-winning advantage. Unlike most other countries, India has chosen not to use attack helicopters in counter-insurgency operations for fear of collateral damage.

The IAF and army have also placed a Rs 7,000-crore order for 159 Dhruv Mark III utility helicopters. These have been designed and built by Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL), which builds 36 Dhruvs each year. There is an estimated need for more than 350 Dhruvs for the Army, IAF, coast guard and paramilitary forces.

The Navy is buying an additional 50 light, twin-engine helicopters, most probably from AgustaWestland. The Dhruv does not meet its needs since its composite rotors cannot be folded up for stowing the helicopter in a warship's tight confines.

In addition, the navy is procuring another 91 medium, multi-role helicopters to replace its vintage Sea King fleet, which flies from larger frigates and destroyers. A global tender is out for 16 helicopters, to which another 75 have been added.

Riding on the Dhruv's success is HAL's Rudra, a heavily armed version of the Dhruv, which carries a cannon, rocket pods, anti-tank missiles and a full suite of electronic warfare (EW) equipment. The army and the air force will buy 76 Rudras.

HAL is also developing the Light Combat Helicopter, of which 179 are on order (IAF 65; army 114). This 5.5-tonne light armed helicopter features the Shakti engine, the Dhruv's dynamic components (main rotor, tail rotor, and the gearbox), and the weapons suite that is being developed on the Rudra. The LCH will be a high altitude virtuoso: taking off from Himalayan altitudes of 10,000 feet, firing guns and rockets up to 16,300 feet, and launching missiles at UAVs flying at over 21,000 feet.

The military's other bulk requirement is for 384 light utility helicopters, or LUH's, to replace the army and IAF's obsolescent Cheetahs and Chetaks. This has been divided into two streams: 197 LuHs are being bought off-the-shelf through a global tender; and 187 LuHs are being developed and built in India by HAL. To ensure timely delivery, the Ministry of Defence has specified target dates for HAL's development milestones: building of a mock-up; the design freeze; the first flight; Initial Operational Clearance, and so on. Each time HAL misses a milestone, its order reduces from 187.

Unlike IAF's fixed wing aircraft acquisition plan that focuses on foreign buys, its rotary wing plan leans towards indigenisation. This after a strategic assessment in the mid-1990s, when Ashok Baweja was HAL's chairman, that indigenisation could be realistically pursued in the less challenging rotary wing field than in the cutting-edge realm of fighter aircraft.

This policy drew strength from the technological breakthroughs of the Dhruv helicopter and the Turbomeca-HAL Shakti engine. Both these were optimised for high altitude operations up to 20,000 feet, a unique feature in the army's operating environment.

P Soundara Rajan, HAL's helicopter chief, says the Bangalore-based division will ramp up turnover from the current 10 per cent of HAL's turnover to 25 per cent a decade from now. Having taken 40 years to build its first 700 helicopters, which were basic second-generation machines, HAL aims at building another 700 fourth-generation within the next 15-20 years.

http://business-standard.com/india/news/massive-military-helicopter-buys-allow-for-indigenisation/476452/