Indian Air Force Orders 65 HAL Light Combat Helicopters for USD 1.4 billion

[RoYaL~GuJJaR]

Well this faithfulguy do have a point here that if both LCH and apache are of same cost then why don't we go for apache! But as i don't have much knowledge regarding this issue so i want any military professional or any other guy with accurate data or knoweledge regarding this issue to spread some light here...

 

[Lord Of Gondor]

So are you saying that the cost per apache does not include the point you made above? I don't think so. I believe its a whole package. And Americans are not like Russians, who would increase the price toward the end of the purchase. Once the price is set, its a done deal. We'll not screw you guys over like how the Russians did with the carrier deal.

It's true.Just check the unofficial price for the C-17's.We are to pay over 4Billion$ for 10 C-17's while the unit cost of each C-17 is around 200-250million$ as far as Russia(Read-Soviet Union) is concerned the initial costs might be low but due to unrefined engines they consume lot of fuel.Hence we end up having nightmares..............

 

[angeldemon_007]

The money is for the overall package,which includes weapons,infrastructure and the A-Heli!This is a new platform for the IAF so necessary infrastructure needs to be in place............!!

Look i have not much knowldge but i still wanna point out this. What infrastructure ?? Its not a fighter jet that needs infrastructure and i never heard any such helicopter deals which involves building heli pads. Not to mention LCH can also land on uneven and hilly terrain unlike fighter jets.

21 Mil will include every thing wepons spares infra etc because dhruv is just 7 mil so 21 mil just for. A heli cant be possible it has to inude other cost to
just my 2 cents

I agree with you but there is not enough info to support this. Not to mention, LCH has many systems from Dhruv and hence the development cost should be less.

1400 millions divided by 65 amounts to 21 million dollars per piece. thats pretty expensive. well not really.

The deal also includes the following:

1. ground equipment.
2. servcing equipments
3. supply of of various testing equipment in various quantities.
4. life cycle support for a desired duration
5. warranty support

now if u take all these into account. the total cost per chopper will work out to be substantially less.

also i would any time go for indegenous supply then foreign purchase.

If you can support all this with something then please share with us.

Before jumping in with your pearls of wisdom do you atleast know that the LCH was designed keeping in mind the high altitudes of the Himalayas, the lessons learnt in Kargil war where the Russian attack chopers were in-effective due to altitude ?

Look man, LCH is no doubt a great machine but Apache is amazing. Service ceiling of Apache is also very high. It might not make to Siachen but it can make to most of the other disputed areas.

So are you saying that the cost per apache does not include the point you made above? I don't think so. I believe its a whole package.

Well what you believe is wrong. If apache is selected we will be paying for wepons, services, spares and all separately and the whole deal will cost us 1.4 billion$. India will be paying 1.4 billion $ for just 22 apache.

India plans to procure 22 AH-64D Block III Apache Helicopters - Brahmand.com

Now, there are no reports that indicates in this lch deal whether these things are included or not, but if its true then its very cheap. Because then in 1.4 we will be getting 65 LCH on one side and on the other we will be getting 22 apache in the same price.

 

[Pioneerfirst]

65 HAL Light Combat Helicopters for USD 1.4 billion!!!! Expensive viewing its capabilities.

 

[angeldemon_007]

65 HAL Light Combat Helicopters for USD 1.4 billion!!!! Expensive viewing its capabilities.

I think you should be happy then...

 

[Whiplash]

If this cost the same as apache, why wouldn't Indian military just go for apache. Something is fishy here.

Well it indigenous so its better than buying foreign stuff.

If its indigenous, than it should be cheaper. If not cheaper, than the gov has the responsibility to get the most out of the tax payers money. I would recommend that they go for apache over LCH if its the same price.

Oh come one guys. When I said it is the same cost as the Apache I meant Apache AH64A not AH64D (The latter being double the cost)
Secondly I meant the cost the US Army buys them for. When we buy them they are sold for much higher.
(We are buying 22 AH64Dm with weapons, spares, support and infrastructure for 1.4 billion) That's 64 million a piece. Weapons include over 1400 hellfires and 250+ stingers
So This IS much cheaper.

 

[Whiplash]

65 HAL Light Combat Helicopters for USD 1.4 billion!!!! Expensive viewing its capabilities.

It's 'capabilities' are the same as any other combat Helo in the world. Moreover it can conduct very high altitude ops unlike the others. So stop posting sh!t without prior knowledge

 

[piyalghoshal]

first is that if hal produces it in large nos. then the cost will automaticaly come down.
second is the reason for chosing lch as it is more capable than apache , indian people gets there money back,no tension of price rise or stoppage in supply in between and it genarates employment.

 

[Kinetic]

If this cost the same as apache, why wouldn't Indian military just go for apache. Something is fishy here.

In which way it looks like Apache is cheaper than LCH? India buying 22 Apache for $ 1.4 billion and 65 LCH for $1.4 billion. Which one is cheaper? Also why do you think that cheaper or costlier Indian military should go for foreign system over Indians? Peculiar view.

 

[Kinetic]

65 HAL Light Combat Helicopters for USD 1.4 billion!!!! Expensive viewing its capabilities.

What do you know about its capabilities? Your reply indicates, Nothing.

 

[Swati Shukla]

First of All it's price if true isn't that high viewing it's capabilities... And there is no official conformation i guess about it's price.. It's price wold be much lower than this.. And we actually don't know what are the things included in the contract..!

 

[Black Widow]

This works out to 21 mil per chopper. So our LCH is more expensive than the JF 17?

Yes It is and it has to be....
Reasons??
1. The cost include development expense.
2. It includes Infrastructure cost as well....

Development cost is always high for products.. Unless large volume is ordered The cost is higher....

 

[tallboy123]

LCH cost include all life cycle cost,spares,kits,weapons like helina ,rockets etc,etc..

 

[Black Widow]

In which way it looks like Apache is cheaper than LCH? India buying 22 Apache for $ 1.4 billion and 65 LCH for $1.4 billion. Which one is cheaper? Also why do you think that cheaper or costlier Indian military should go for foreign system over Indians? Peculiar view.

This is the most useful post, so what you guys say now??? $1.4 Billion for 22 Apache and 600 million for 15 Heavy lift Helo...

Source: Wiki: On 26 May 2009, the Indian Ministry of Defense invited bids for 22 combat helicopters and 15 heavy-lift helicopters in a deal worth US$2 billion

Don't u guys feel this is better deal??? 65 LCH for 1.4 Bil USD??? and more-ever, This machine is useful at high altitude

 

[luckyyy]

money spend will remain in our system to help improve it further....