India to upgrade 6 Ka-28s, engine overhaul for another four

[Major Shaitan Singh]

India will undertake mid-life upgrade of six Russian-made Kamov 28 anti-submarine warfare helicopters besides overhaul of another four.

Of the ten Kamov 28 helicopters that were procured from the erstwhile USSR in the mid-80s, only a few are in flying condition today while the remaining have been mothballed for spares.

The Defence Acquisition Council on Saturday cleared the proposal for the upgrade of the helicopters in Russia, defence sources said.

Under the mid-life upgrade, the six choppers will get new sensors among others while the rest four will only undergo engine overhauling.

The project, to be undertaken by Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) Rosoboronexport, is valued at nearly Rs 2,000 crore.

 

[Tshering22]

Why can't we just buy the new Ka-31s instead? Putin has agreed to make India the hub for Kamov helicopters anyway.

Wasting money on upgrading serves no purpose in the navy considering the amount of wear and tear helos experience in marine conditions.

 

[MilSpec]

2000 cr? the figure dont seem legit... An ALH Dhruv costs approximately 40 Cr, so at the price of upgrade Navy could buy 50 ALH's,

 

[Major Shaitan Singh]

India is going to provide a much-needed midlife upgrade and overhaul to 10 of its Navy's Russian-origin Kamov Ka-28 helicopters that are three decades old and are on the verge of being mothballed.

The Defense Acquisition Council that met under Defense Minister Manohar Parrikar on March 28, 2015 took the decision to carry out the midlife upgrade on all 10 Ka-28 helicopters that were first inducted into the Indian Navy in 1986 when INS Ranvir Destroyer was commissioned. Six of the Ka-28s will also get an overhaul in the process, a senior Defense Ministry official told Arming India on March 30, 2015.

The cost of the midlife upgrade and overhaul would be Euro 297 Million and would be carried out by Rosoboronexport, the agency that handles all export of Russian military equipment. The cost of the program will be Euro 297 Million (Rs.2,100 Crore/$275 Million), the official said.

This decision of the DAC was not communicated by another Defense Ministry official during a briefing to the media on the meeting's discussions on March 28.

Anti-Missile Defense Radar

The DAC also gave its nod to amendments in its earlier decision to allow the Indian Navy to buy six Anti-Missile Defense Radars (AMDR) for its four Kora-class of corvettes and two missile boats.

These AMDRs will replace the existing old radar systems on the six warships, the official said. The project would cost Rs.342 crore ($55 Million).

Repair Facility At Kochi

Another decision of the DAC is the revalidation of the Acceptance of Necessity for Rs.32 crore to set up a repair facility for naval Printed Circuit Board at the Naval Ship Repair Yard at Kochi.

 

[Ronin]

Putting lipstick on a pig

And a very expensive lipstick on a very old pig

 

[Abingdonboy]

Why can't we just buy the new Ka-31s instead? Putin has agreed to make India the hub for Kamov helicopters anyway.

Ka-31s are an AEW helo, these Ka-28s are ASW helos, these funds would be better spent on procuring new S-70B that will be able to serve for 30 years, Sikorsky have said they are willing to set up local production in India should India order enough S-70Bs, this would make India a hub for this type.

This figure simply can't be right and if it is then the new DM has a lot of explaining to do especially after he has said he is about cutting waste and spending more wisely.

 

[Echo_419]

Ka-31s are an AEW helo, these Ka-28s are ASW helos, these funds would be better spent on procuring new S-70B that will be able to serve for 30 years, Sikorsky have said they are willing to set up local production in India should India order enough S-70Bs, this would make India a hub for this type.

This figure simply can't be right and if it is then the new DM has a lot of explaining to do especially after he has said he is about cutting waste and spending more wisely.

Agreed this figure can't possible be right