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HAL’s LUH making progress

shree835

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With the choice of engine locked (Turbomeca Ardiden 1U Shakti), HAL is moving forward with other aspects of the light utility helicopter for the three services. HAL has begun procurement processes to acquire an active flight control system, inertial navigation system, passive vibration isolation system (PVIS), emergency locator transmitter, dual mode anti-collision light, oxygen system, fuel pump, cargo hook system and hydraulic pumps.

As reported earlier by SP’s, HAL is under great pressure to speed up the programme, given that the reconnaissance and surveillance helicopter (RSH) acquisition remains in limbo, with the Defence Acquisition Council yet to take a final call on how to proceed with the procurement of 197 helicopters, currently being contended by Eurocopter and Kamov. Unlike the Israeli collaboration on the glass cockpit for the ALH Dhruv, HAL will be investing in a fully indigenous glass cockpit for the LUH that involves only Indian companies and joint ventures. Marketing for the LUH will also be an entirely Indian effort. Top IAF sources said, “The helicopter concept is promising, but it remains to be seen whether HAL can stick to timelines. That will be the real test. The IAF would prefer to induct indigenous platforms rather than import.”
 
Nice- come on HAL. Indian forces need this helo 3 years ago!!
 
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HAL to deliver light choppers for high altitude operations in 2015 | idrw.org
SOURCE: PTI

Indian aerospace major HAL is developing an indigenous light utility helicopter to ferry troops and supplies in high altitude areas such as Siachen Glacier as a programme to procure 197 such choppers from foreign sellers is delayed in view of a CBI probe. The programme for developing the three-tonne helicopter is in the ‘design freeze’ stage after consultations with the armed forces headquarters, including the Army and Air Force

The machine is expected to be ready by 2015. “The LUH programme is progressing well and the project has achieved ‘design freeze’ following the concurrence from armed forces headquarters. The first ground test vehicle is being readied for factory tests,” Hindustan Aeronautics Limited officials said in New Delhi. The single-engine chopper would be powered by a French engine, which has been chosen by the country’s only aerospace company through a tendering process.

Asked whether they would be able to meet the scheduled timeline of 2015, HAL officials said, “We are confident about adhering to the timeline specified by the government.” The need for developing an indigenous light chopper was felt by HAL soon after Kargil War where Indian and Pakistani troops were engaged in a limited conflict for over 40 days at altitudes of above 10,000 feet. Earlier, the plan was to supply 384 light choppers to the Army and IAF of which 197 were to be procured from foreign vendors while the remaining were to be produced by HAL. But, at the moment, the plan to procure 197 choppers from abroad is stuck due to various reasons.

The first tender to procure the choppers was scrapped by Defence Minister AK Antony after some wrongdoing was detected in them. The second tender has been stuck for over a year now after the government ordered a CBI probe into allegations that a Brigadier had sought a bribe of around Rs 25 crore for helping a particular vendor in the case. These choppers are mainly deployed in high-altitude areas in Ladakh to provide supplies to Indian troops deployed there at heights of between 10,000-23,000 feet.
 
HAL should work with a gun to their head.force these PSU's to work nont stop 24-7 with different shifts. Do something different.
 
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