majesticpankaj
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NEW DELHI: The Army headquarters has written yet again to defence minister AK Antony asking him to look at the long delay in replacing the obsolete Chetak and Cheetah helicopters that are the lifeline of soldiers, especially in high-altitude posts.
The Army had initiated the process of replacing the ageing Chetak and Cheetah some 12 years ago. The government first issued the initial bids to buy 197 reconnaissance and surveillance helicopters for the Army in 2003. It was issued the second time and the current one is the third request for proposal and was issued in July 2008.
Eurocopter Fennec and Russian-made ROE Kamov 226T are in the final trials.
In the letter, reviewed by ET, the Army HQ rues that "some of the obsolescence issues which are dogging the fleet" are component failures, low reliability, accidents and increased structural failures. It warns that of the two helicopters have become death traps.
The letter also argues why replacement and not upgradation is the option. "The Cheetah/Chetak helicopters are no longer manufactured by the OEM (original equipment manufacturer) and no plans are there to upgrade as well. Therefore, the only way forward is to replace this ageing fleet," the letter points out.
"Chetak and Cheetah helicopters have lived beyond the threshold by more than 10-15 years," it adds.
"Defence minister AK Antony must take a strong decision in this case considering that the delay in acquiring new choppers is putting the lives of several soldiers at risk," said a defence ministry official, adding that "he shouldn't attach undue importance to unsubstantiated news reports about lack of probity in all Cheetah helicopter of the Indian Army crashed in Nashik.
A preliminary probe suggested a "technical snag" as the reason for the crash. In August 2010, three soldiers died as the Cheetah hit a hill slope in Viswema village, 30 km from Kohima, the capital of Nagaland. Recently, Army chief General Bikram Singh, in a presentation before Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, urged speedy decision on 197 choppers.
The final competition for 197 light-utility vehicles is now between Eurocopter and Russian firm Kamov.
However, allegations of corruption by Italian firm AgustaWestland an associate of Finmeccanica that was in the initial race for the bid to manipulate the deal may further delay the procurement of new helicopters. State-owned Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd has yet not been able to produce an indigenous replacement for such helicopters.
Army issues third request to A K Anthony for the replacement of Chetak, Cheetah helicopters - The Economic Times
The Army had initiated the process of replacing the ageing Chetak and Cheetah some 12 years ago. The government first issued the initial bids to buy 197 reconnaissance and surveillance helicopters for the Army in 2003. It was issued the second time and the current one is the third request for proposal and was issued in July 2008.
Eurocopter Fennec and Russian-made ROE Kamov 226T are in the final trials.
In the letter, reviewed by ET, the Army HQ rues that "some of the obsolescence issues which are dogging the fleet" are component failures, low reliability, accidents and increased structural failures. It warns that of the two helicopters have become death traps.
The letter also argues why replacement and not upgradation is the option. "The Cheetah/Chetak helicopters are no longer manufactured by the OEM (original equipment manufacturer) and no plans are there to upgrade as well. Therefore, the only way forward is to replace this ageing fleet," the letter points out.
"Chetak and Cheetah helicopters have lived beyond the threshold by more than 10-15 years," it adds.
"Defence minister AK Antony must take a strong decision in this case considering that the delay in acquiring new choppers is putting the lives of several soldiers at risk," said a defence ministry official, adding that "he shouldn't attach undue importance to unsubstantiated news reports about lack of probity in all Cheetah helicopter of the Indian Army crashed in Nashik.
A preliminary probe suggested a "technical snag" as the reason for the crash. In August 2010, three soldiers died as the Cheetah hit a hill slope in Viswema village, 30 km from Kohima, the capital of Nagaland. Recently, Army chief General Bikram Singh, in a presentation before Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, urged speedy decision on 197 choppers.
The final competition for 197 light-utility vehicles is now between Eurocopter and Russian firm Kamov.
However, allegations of corruption by Italian firm AgustaWestland an associate of Finmeccanica that was in the initial race for the bid to manipulate the deal may further delay the procurement of new helicopters. State-owned Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd has yet not been able to produce an indigenous replacement for such helicopters.
Army issues third request to A K Anthony for the replacement of Chetak, Cheetah helicopters - The Economic Times
