Neelam Mathews
Oct 11, 2012
Aerospace Diary
is hearing about talks between India’s Sun Group and Russian Helicopters for
Ka-31 which Russian Helicopters says, is “the only mass-produced airborne
early warning helicopter on the market.”
We could not confirm whether the
partnership is for potential manufacture for a possible pilot project to be
floated exclusively for private Indian companies or as offsets for a possible
potential order for 10 AEWs required for the delayed aircraft carrier Gorshkov
, now known as Vikramaditya.
Interestingly, we learn Shiv Vikram Khemka, deputy chairman of the Board of
Directors and founder of SUN Group, is an independent non-executive director on the Board of Russian Helicopters. Khemka
has over 20 years experience doing
business and investing in Russia, Latin America and India. He has lived
and worked in Moscow since 1990 managing the business of SUN Group. Khemka
does not own any shares in Russian Helicopters.
The Indian Navy
uses several versions of the Kamov including Ka-28 and Ka-31. The Navy had
ordered nine AEWs, all of which were delivered by 2005 and grounded within two
years of service for a while following defect in airframes. Parts were then
difficult to procure. The matter seems to have been resolved now.
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