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Navy plans to issue bid for over 120 multirole choppers

JanjaWeed

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In could be the world's biggest tender for helicopters, the Indian Navy is planning to issue a bid for procuring more than 120 multirole choppers expected to be worth around Rs 35,000 crore.

The navy had recently issued a global request for information in this regard and has plans of acquiring more than 120 Naval Multirole Helicopters (NMRH), navy sources said here.

The navy had recently asked global helicopter vendors to provide details about their choppers in this category and is planning to issue a global request for proposal in this regard in near future, they said.

The navy is planning to procure these new NMRH for carrying out anti-submarine warfare, special forces' operations and anti-submarine and anti-surface warfare.

The companies expected to take part in the tender include all major chopper manufacturers like European Eurocopter and Agusta Westland and American Sikorsky and Lockheed Martin.

"We are planning to offer our EC725 helicopter once the Indian Navy issues a tender for these NMRH," Eurocopter's Vice President for South Asia region Rainner Farid said here.

The Indian Navy is already holding a competition for procuring 16 multirole helicopters in which European NH-90 and American Sikorsky S-70 Bravo are in the race.

The navy at present relies on its fleet of Sea King helicopters which were inducted in two different phases in the 80s.

The navy would require these multirole choppers in view of its expanding fleet size and expansion in its area of responsibility with the government stating that country's strategic interest ranges from the Gulf of Aden to the Malacca Straits.

Navy plans to issue bid for over 120 multirole choppers - Indian Express
 
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Is HAL pitching in with this?

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Indian military has been on a massive upgradation program of late...C-130's, Apaches, jets, tanks, howitzers, the whole lot!!!
 
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Is HAL pitching in with this?

HAL has pitched them, but IN rejected it for strange reasons. First it was performance (back then the older Dhruv version with Turbomecca engines were used), then it was not automatically folding rotors, then it was range.
HAL has offered to modify it, but IN denied, instead they strangely now searching not only for bigger naval helicopters like the NH90 or S70, but also for helicopters in Dhruvs class, so much for INs support for indigenous products.

It's an butt ugly chopper. But looks capable enough. :D

Yes, although I find the general naval version is a beauty!

vibb45g2.jpg



More importantly, it would serve the purpose with some simple changes. Get an automatic folding system if necessary, re-design the nose section similar to the AW 159:

yPAm3.jpg



And upgrade it with the latest engine and avionics from Rudra. You could even take the same stubwings to carry light anti ship or A2G missiles. Not to mention that many countries uses smaller naval helicopter for their coast guard patrol boats or corvettes, which offers some export potential too.


P.S. I think the opening article is confusing all the different naval helicopter orders, we actuall heared about around 70 x NH90/S70 class helicopter and some 50 x Dhruv / EC Panther class helicopters deals, so it might be a total of 120 new helicopters and not another deal.
 
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