Hindustan Aeronautics' Light Utility Helicopter set to fly in a week

[shree835]

NEW DELHI: The first flight of an indigenously developed light utility helicopter is to take place within a week - a major milestone for the project - with developers overcoming a final software-related hurdle that had held up tests.

Authoritative sources told ET that the first flight of the 3.1 tonne prototype LUH, developed by Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd. to replace the ageing Cheetah and Chetak fleets of the armed forces, will take place in Bengaluru within a few days, depending on the weather.

"We are now ready to take the chopper in the air. All hurdles have been crossed and now it is only a matter of the right day when all conditions are good for a first flight," a senior official involved in the project told ET.

While ground tests for the LUH were concluded in 2015, the first flight had been held up due to certification issues in the software used in the chopper. As the LUH is classified as a military project, special encrypted software was needed. The developer had initially shared codes that did not meet specifications.

The LUH program has been in the works since 2008, when the armed forces projected a requirement for a light chopper that could carry troops and supplies to border areas. More than 200 choppers are needed by the three armed forces.

There has been renewed energy on accelerating the project in the past year, with a parallel process being driven by the armed forces to procure a light chopper for urgent needs.


HAL plans to start manufacturing the choppers from 2018, after certifications and operational clearances are obtained. The chopper is powered by a Shakti engine made in collaboration with French company Turbomeca. A new production facility is to be built for the LUH project.

Besides troop transport, the choppers can be used for aerial reconnaissance and civilian purposes to meet domestic and export demand.

HAL is working on a project with Russian Helicopters to build 200 of the KA 226 light choppers in India as part of a government-to-government deal. A detailed agreement on the KA 226 is expected to be finalised shortly.

http://economictimes.indiatimes.com...set-to-fly-in-a-week/articleshow/53971418.cms

 

[4GTejasBVR]

India poised to have largest helicopter fleet in Asia

 

[Nilgiri]

India poised to have largest helicopter fleet in Asia

Do you have the total numbers for China, Japan etc?

 

[Kraitcorp]

HUL must be fast tracked and inducted to serve various roles like air-ambulance, ferrying passengers, Search and Rescue. Our military itself has a requirement of over 400+ Heli's. saves a lot of foreign exchange.

Can anyone explain why are we going to get the ka-226t light helicopters instead of waiting to get this or instead use AHL.

 

[4GTejasBVR]

Do you have the total numbers for China, Japan etc?

As of now over all
China has 900+ helicopter
India has 620+ helicopter
Japan 720+
Pakistan 320+

But the 'n future India will induct massive numbers of helicopter to not just next 20 years. Only for armed forces


Combined requirement of Helicopters for Indian Armed forces will hover around 1200 helicopters for different types of needs which Armed forces will need in next 10-15 years to replace ageing and retiring fleet of helicopters. Tri-Service requires 484 Light utility helicopters to replace Cheetah/Chetak fleet of helicopters for which Army requires 259, IAF 125 and Navy around 100 helicopters of LUH class and Coastguard and other Paramilitary forces will have their own requirements over 484 Helicopters. Under Light utility helicopter class requirements, Russsian State-run Rostec will organise the production of at least 200 Kamov Ka-226T for which 40 will be built in Russia and remainder will be assembled in India and HAL’s Light Utility Helicopter (LUH) helicopters which is yet to carry its first flight will fill the gap for remaining requirements. Indian Air force is also looking to place a repeat order for 48 more Medium class Multi-utility Mi-17-V helicopters from Russia and Navy has a separate requirement for 50 twin-engined helicopters for Shipborne duties which will have foldable blades for which Navy is yet to issue a tender. Further, Navy also wants to place orders for 147 multi-role helicopters with anti-submarine warfare capabilities under NMRH (Naval Multi Role Helicopter) for which Sikorsky S-70B Seahawk Multi Role Helicopter has been selected under which commercial negotiation will be commenced to purchase initial 16 helicopters with an option of buying 8 more helicopters. Navy plans to build remaining 123 similar helicopters indigenously in India and also negotiating with state-run HAL to procure 16 more ALH Dhruv Helicopters. Sensing further Armed forces requirements for more Heaver multi-role helicopters, HAL has been tasked to design and develop 1200 kW Hindustan Tubo Shaft Engine (HTSE-1200) which can be used for helicopters.

idrw.org . Read more at India No 1 Defence News Website , Kindly don't paste our work in other websites http://idrw.org/india-will-require-...xt-15-years-for-its-military-defence-analyst/ .

 

[jaiind]

i had seen one heli flying over BEL jalahalli. it has a unique look than other hal hellis. i hope that is the hal luc.

 

[Mustang06]

Dhruv based platforms have turned out to be success one after the other!

 

[Kinetic]

Cancel the light chopper contest right way and go for LUH.

 

[Abingdonboy]

HUL must be fast tracked and inducted to serve various roles like air-ambulance, ferrying passengers, Search and Rescue. Our military itself has a requirement of over 400+ Heli's. saves a lot of foreign exchange.

Can anyone explain why are we going to get the ka-226t light helicopters instead of waiting to get this or instead use AHL.

Cancel the light chopper contest right way and go for LUH.

The very fact that the HAL LUH is flying before the Ka-226 deal is even inked should be a clear sign how commited (or not) the GoI/MoD is to the Kamov LUH. Not to mention the fact that the HAL LUH's production centre is already being set up, the deal with the Russians is not even close to identifying a plot of land for their production site.



+ The HAL LUH easily has the potential to cross 1000 units in Indian service (or on order) by 2030 with the orders from IA, IAF, CAPFs/MHA, state governments and the cvilian sector. It should also have considerable export potential.

 

[kaykay]

Great. Indian armed forces and coast guards have a massive requirements of light helicopters....hope development and induction will be quick.