Navy to issue world's largest chopper tender

[Mujraparty]

New Delhi: In one of the world's largest tenders for multirole helicopters, the Indian Navy is planning to procure more than 75 such choppers at an estimated cost of over USD four billion to meet the demand of its expanding area of operations.

The Navy had recently asked global helicopter vendors to provide details about naval multirole helicopters and is planning to issue a global Request for Proposal (RFP) in this regard very soon.

"The Indian Navy would require more than 75 of these Naval Multirole Helicopters (NMRH) and this would be world's largest tender for multirole helicopters," US defence major Lockheed Martin's vice president for Ship and Aviation Systems George Barton told a news agency here.

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. Barton said the US Navy operates a fleet of over 350 MH-60 variants.

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.

The Indian Army and the Air Force have also issued a tender for procuring 197 light utility helicopters but the worth of the choppers in the naval tender is expected to be much more than that as they would be equipped with complex machinery and weapon systems.

Navy to issue world`s largest chopper tender

 

[Backbencher]

Man our navy is modernizing so quickly .

 

[Abingdonboy]

The IN's helo procurement gives me a headache, AFAIK there are 3 separate tenders going on- one to replace the IN ASW Sea Kings (this is the aforementioned ongoing project with intial orders of 16 that will increase to 60) that the NH-90 and S-70B are taking part in, then there is a separate tender for medium mulitrole helos mainly for anti-surface operations, utility and SOAR duties and this is to be a highly customized helo with a2a refueling (AFAIK the AW-101 and S-70B are taking part in this project) and I think this is the RFP relating to this article. Then there is the third RFP which relates to replacing the Chetaks in IN service and could exceed 80 units, AFAIK the Naval AS 555 is taking part in this particular procurement, most likely to be the winner of the IAF/IA LOH/LUH Programme but in a navalised form with two engines as per RFI.

 

[danger007]

hmmm great new......yuppppy my 1000th post...

 

[Tangent]

IN is already evaluating multirole helis. Select the right machine and negotiate for 75 numbers. Why new RFP??

 

[sancho]

The IN's helo procurement gives me a headache, AFAIK there are 3 separate tenders going on- one to replace the IN ASW Sea Kings (this is the aforementioned ongoing project with intial orders of 16 that will increase to 60) that the NH-90 and S-70B are taking part in, then there is a separate tender for medium mulitrole helos mainly for anti-surface operations, utility and SOAR duties and this is to be a highly customized helo with a2a refueling (AFAIK the AW-101 and S-70B are taking part in this project) and I think this is the RFP relating to this article. Then there is the third RFP which relates to replacing the Chetaks in IN service and could exceed 80 units, AFAIK the Naval AS 555 is taking part in this particular procurement, most likely to be the winner of the IAF/IA LOH/LUH Programme but in a navalised form with two engines as per RFI.

The media is confusing things!

There is only one medium class requirement for helicopters to replace the Sea Kings and older Kamov helicopters. The initial reports said about 16 but the tender could go up to 60. Now this reports says more than 75, which could have to do with the LPD procurement competition. Each LPD could hold 2 or 4 medium class helis => so 8 to 16 more.

There is no additional competition for anti-surface operations, because these helicopters will be able to do the same things in various roles anyway.

In the LUH class, IN sadly delinked itself from IA's and IAF's competition and wants to hold an own competition for naval versions, I hope that ICG will at least joint it and don't start another one too.
The Fennec would be a good and logical choice, especially if it wins the IA/IAF competition, but we have to wait and see what will happen. Btw, if they wanted a twin engine light class helicopter, they could simply buy more naval Dhruvs, but they want lighter and more cost-effective helis to replace Chetaks... in their roles.

 

[Backbencher]

hmmm great new......yuppppy my 1000th post...

Heya it took u a while to reach that 1000nd mark .

 

[Jade]

Who could be the possible contenders?

 

[Archie]

Who could be the possible contenders?

Well MH-60 and SH60 Oceanhawk could be one of them considering the fact that USN replaced its seaKing fleet with them

SH-60F Oceanhawk

 

[Abingdonboy]

The media is confusing things!

There is only one medium class requirement for helicopters to replace the Sea Kings and older Kamov helicopters. The initial reports said about 16 but the tender could go up to 60. Now this reports says more than 75, which could have to do with the LPD procurement competition. Each LPD could hold 2 or 4 medium class helis => so 8 to 16 more.

There is no additional competition for anti-surface operations, because these helicopters will be able to do the same things in various roles anyway.

In the LUH class, IN sadly delinked itself from IA's and IAF's competition and wants to hold an own competition for naval versions, I hope that ICG will at least joint it and don't start another one too.
The Fennec would be a good and logical choice, especially if it wins the IA/IAF competition, but we have to wait and see what will happen. Btw, if they wanted a twin engine light class helicopter, they could simply buy more naval Dhruvs, but they want lighter and more cost-effective helis to replace Chetaks... in their roles.

No in the multi-role helo front there are 2 separate procurements to replace the ASW SeaKings and the Utility/SOAR SeaKings, well AFAIK anyway. The reason being the, especially SOAR versions, will need to be significantly different and customised for this specific role compAred to the ASW helos and will need a2a refuelling in particular.


Tbh it makes sense, as IN is expanding they are going to be adding capacity and if they already operate ~80 SeaKings (in all roles) then it is logical they to increase numbers.

 

[harpoon]

How many years we have to wait?

 

[Spice]

i hope they take decision quickly

 

[OrionHunter]

Man our navy is modernizing so quickly .

Hmmm...I can't understand WTF is going on! Billions of dollars for the Navy and Air Force but zilch in the pipeline where the Infantry and Artillery are concerned! Jeeez!

 

[harpoon]

Hmmm...I can't understand WTF is going on! Billions of dollars for the Navy and Air Force but zilch in the pipeline where the Infantry and Artillery are concerned! Jeeez!

Bcs their equipment is expensive and they have commanders who knows how to get things done.

 

[Ajaxpaul]

I would go for MH60 with Hellfire missiles.