Anti-sub copter acquisition delay has Navy in dire straits

[Zarvan]

INS Vikramaditya, the navy’s most prized possession.
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NEW DELHI: Indian warships continue to operate on the high seas without the critical multi-role helicopters that can detect and destroy enemy submarines. At a time when Chinese submarines are docking even at Karachi, the Navy is still nowhere near getting the advanced choppers due to the government's slow decision-making process.

Adding another jolt to the Navy's 15-year-old quest for new multi-role helicopters (MRH), American firm Sikorsky has demanded a steep hike from India for the proposed acquisition of 16 of its S-70B choppers on the ground that contract finalization has been pending for several years.
READ ALSO: Chinese submarine docking in Karachi no threat to India: PLA
The project cost for the 16 heavy-duty helicopters was pegged at Rs 1,760 crore when it got the initial "acceptance of necessity" by the defence ministry in 2008. But these will now come for atleast thrice that price, said MoD sources.

"Yes, the country ends up paying much more because of the long delays in decision-making and convoluted procurement procedures. But Sikorsky is now also asking for some cost escalation linked to deliveries that will begin 3-4 years after the contract is inked...We cannot agree to this," said a MoD source.

Sikorsky, in effect, will have to blink if it wants to bag the lucrative contract, which envisages acquisition of another eight choppers after the first 16 under the repeat option clause. India has now also begun preliminary groundwork to issue the tender for an even bigger naval MRH project for 123 helicopters under the "Make in India" policy with foreign collaboration.

MRHs are "a critical operational necessity" since the Navy is down to just 11 Kamov-28 and 17 Sea King anti-submarine warfare (ASW) helicopters, half of them currently in a moth-balled condition, to defend its existing fleet of 140 warships. The Sea Kings are well over 20 years old. The Kamov-28s, too, have been waiting for a mid-life upgrade for the last several years since Russia is also demanding a huge hike.

READ ALSO: Airbus to build military choppers in India with Mahindra

Consequently, most Indian warships are relatively naked in the submarine-infested waters of the Indian Ocean Region. ASW helicopters typically fly ahead of warships to "dunk" their sonars into the deep waters, "listen" for enemy submarines and fire torpedoes against them to clear the path for the fleet.

In the 9 to 12.5-tonne class, MRH also have missiles as well as electronic warfare and early-warning suites. The various helicopter acquisition plans, to induct around 1,200 choppers over the next 10-15 years, in fact have all been dogged by long delays, scams and scrapping of tenders.

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Anti-sub copter acquisition delay has Navy in dire straits - The Times of India

 

[Ankit Kumar 001]

Way out from this issue.

1. Get 16 more new ka27 and 8 ka31 helis.
2. Cancel the order of 16 helis.
3. Again send out an RFI and issue an Tender for all 100+ choppers together.
As ordering all 100+ choppers together will
1. Save more money.
2. Save time that will be needed for 2different helicopter deals which will be for the same helicopters.

And last, keep improving our Naval HAL DHRUV.

 

[anant_s]

First of all paranoia of China cannot/should not decide each and every strategic decision. The requirement of Helios is a part of long term planning and hence no knee jerk reaction based on one or two isolated events should be made.
Second, extended negotiations are leading to escalation of costs in most contracts and here when a decision is made, there must be a time bound manner to issue LoI with responsibility and a reasonable time frame fixed.
Third with induction of P8i, having ASW capabilities and its range, some work load can be shared with helios, and that i believe gives us some breathing space.

http://www.sikorsky.com/Lists/Asset...oads/2050_N-077_MH60R_prochure_Blur_02_13.pdf

 

[Archie]

I was expecting modi to fast track defense acquisition,
Sadly that has not happened
We need anti submarine Helos no doubt abt that
In last 5 years we have inducted
6 Frigates and 1 Destroyer, but no Naval Helicopter. These are capable of carrying 14 Helix
In fact in last 15 years,
Navy has only inducted 9 Ka31 and 8 half Dhruvs
Out of which 3-4 Ka31 fly from Vikramaditya

We will be inducting 7 Frigates and 6 Destroyers in next 10 years, not to mention 11 ASW Corvettes capable of carrying 1 heli each.
Hence
We need a lot more than 24 Sea Kings

 

[Abingdonboy]

An absolute effing joke....delays delays delays!!

How many times have we seen this story; India sends out RFI, trails and evaluations take place speedily by the services, the files go to the MoD and you don't see any movement for YEARS, the OEMs extend the validity of their original bid numerous times (as Sikorsky has done) only for the MoD to show no inclination of moving foreword and the OEM make it clear they can't keep their original bids relevant long past their submission dates.

Whilst this is going on the military is forced to make do with ANCIENT hardware not only compromising their capabilities but also risking the safety of all those unfortunate users. The Sea Kings were purchased in the bloody 80s for god's sake!


This has been the case with the Ch-47Fs, AH-64Es, M777s and is a major part of what killed the MMRCA.


What an utter, utter joke India's defence procurement policy is.

 

[Abingdonboy]

I was expecting modi to fast track defense acquisition,
Sadly that has not happened
We need anti submarine Helos no doubt abt that
In last 5 years we have inducted
6 Frigates and 1 Destroyer, but no Naval Helicopter. These are capable of carrying 14 Helix
In fact in last 15 years,
Navy has only inducted 9 Ka31 and 8 half Dhruvs
Out of which 3-4 Ka31 fly from Vikramaditya

We will be inducting 7 Frigates and 6 Destroyers in next 10 years, not to mention 11 ASW Corvettes capable of carrying 1 heli each.
Hence
We need a lot more than 24 Sea Kings

No more Russian junk.

The S-70B is the best in its class and the IN should not have its capabilities stunted because of the idiots in the MoD being unable to shift some pieces of paper and sign some documents.

 

[black-hawk_101]

But may be India is planning from inside.