IAF to order new attack helicopters to upgrade fleet

Seeking to upgrade its rotary wing fleet, the Indian Air Force will shortly...

Seeking to upgrade its rotary wing fleet, the Indian Air Force (IAF) will shortly float global tenders to acquire two squadrons of attack helicopters and one squadron of heavy lift helicopters. Air Chief Marshal F H Major has said final specifications for the two types of aircraft are being drawn up and request for proposals (RFP) will be sent out in the coming months.

Speaking to reporters at the sidelines of a seminar on “heli power”, Major said, “We plan to acquire two squadrons of attack helicopters and one squadron of heavy lift choppers. It is in the final stages of preparation,” the

Air Chief said.

The follow-on order for an additional 80 MI-17 helicopters from Russia was also in the final stages, he added.

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The Air Chief Marshal said global tenders for the replacement of the Army and Air Force’s Chetak and Cheetah fleet were likely to be floated within the next three months. The mega multi-billion dollar tender would be floated to procure 317 multi-role light helicopters — 197 for the Army and the remaining for the Air Force.

There is a possibility of the tender extending to even greater numbers as the Navy, too, is looking to replace its Cheetah fleet. Navy Chief Admiral Sureesh Mehta did not rule out the possibility of the Navy’s requirement being combined in the tender.

The Navy is looking to replace close to 60 helicopters but Mehta said the requirement might even be filled by an add-on order to the winner of the global tender.

While the number of global aviation companies being approached for the attack helicopter deal was not clear, sources said US-based Boeing, Europe’s EADS and Russian firm Kamov would be invited to bid in the contract.

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For the heavy lift requirement, the IAF is likely to invite bidders like Boeing, Sikorsky (US) and Kazan (Russia). The Air Force currently operates a fleet of four Russian MI-26 ultra heavy lift helicopters.