Indigenous Helicopter to get FAA certificate

[sancho]

it is not fair to say the IN is "wrong" or making a "mistake" in exploring foreign helos.

It is, unlike in the case of HTT 40, or even N-LCA that I often criticize, we already have a naval helicopter that could be useful for IN, the naval Dhruv! IN rejected one of the earlier versions and instead of asking for modifications or developing a re-design that is more suitable for their requirements, they now want 56 x foreign helicopter in the same class.
I agree that we neither can't wait for indigenous developments, nor take stuff that doesn't fit the requirements, but in this case we already have it and modifying it would take less time than setting up a competition and evaluating several foreign helicopters.

The IN particuarly does not have antoehr decade plus to wait for HAL to get around to building the IMRH. As it stands the IN's roatary wing issues will be addressed by 2018-20 and this is good for India.

Wrt IMRH, that's not correct either, we are upgrading some of the Sea Kings and would need only a few medium class helicopter in the short term, especially since the LDPs and new carriers will not be available anytime soon either. So we could easily bridge the gap now and could go for a NG medium class helicopter in the long term. Same what I suggested with the heavy lift helicopter competition, where the CH 47 is a big mistake, which shows a lack of foresight of IAF. Mi 26-T2 now (in smaller numbers or even leased) and Eurocopters FTH in the long run, would have get is much more operational and industrial advantages and the same could come with a NG helicopter for the navy too.

 

[maniac@666]

if we get FAA certificate it will definately boost our aviation industry.

 

[Abingdonboy]

Wrt IMRH, that's not correct either, we are upgrading some of the Sea Kings and would need only a few medium class helicopter in the short term, especially since the LDPs and new carriers will not be available anytime soon either.

@sancho, the Sea Kings are being given limited updrades ie semi-glass cockpits with 2-3 MFDs, EO/FLIR pods and other minor touches. When compared to the lines of the S-70B and the NH-90 they are woefully inadequate. As such the IN has initiated the N-MRH competition. And by 2020 the IN will require quite a sizable MRH force- 1-2 for every destroyer,frigate and corvette, 4-5+ for every ACC, 5-6+ for every LHD/LPD and then a sizable force on shore for training, MRO, SAR etc.


The IN cannot wait for HAL to pull their fingers out and get moving on the IMRH. Even today it seems the IAF and AAC are altleast a decade away from being able to induct the IMRH (if they will is another question) and then the IN will have to wait another 3-4 years ,most likely, for HAL to "navalise" the IMRH.

So is it okay to ask the IN to wait until 2025+ for a helo that may meet their needs?

 

[sancho]

@sancho, the Sea Kings are being given limited updrades ie semi-glass cockpits with 2-3 MFDs, EO/FLIR pods and other minor touches. When compared to the lines of the S-70B and the NH-90 they are woefully inadequate.

Just like the S70 and NH90 are compared to the Sikorsky S97, or the Eurocopter X3, or to the coming NG helicopters in their class. So that is not the point, the upgrades gives us time, just like the AN 32 upgrades gives us time for MTA.

The IN cannot wait for HAL to pull their fingers out and get moving on the IMRH.

They don't have to, they can get proactive and ask them to develop at least a concept that is funded by IN right? But they didn't, not even considered Dhruv modifications and directly moved on to foreign procurements. Which is clearly the wrong way.

 

[jha]

I do hope for an indigenous medium range helicopter too, but HAL should not only look at producing things indigenously, that others had produced for decades. They have to look ahead and what is comeing, to provide our forces with the best products and if they can't develop the same with their current capabilities, they have to go for co-developments!

Yes... Co-Development is a good way forward. Somewhere down the line we will have to put a Stop to the ever increasing import of hardware. Solution needs to be co-developed or, indigenous.