Exclusive- India May Drop Big Helicopter Purchase from Abroad?
AIN Defense Perspective » August 31, 2012 by Neelam Mathews The Eurocopter AS550C3 Fennec is a contender for the light utility helicopters (Photo: Eurocopter) August 31, 2012, 9:45 AM India may abandon plans to procure 197 light utility helicopter (LUHs) from abroad for the Indian air force (64) and army (133). Such a decision would favor government-owned defense manufacturer Hindustan Aeronautics ( HAL ), which is developing its own LUH design based on the Advanced Light Helicopter ( ALH ). The government was already planning to order an additional 187 light utility helicopters to be produced under license by HAL . It is not clear what the time frame for delivery would be, as HAL would need to expand its current production facility, requiring government approval. The request for proposal for the LUHs was first released in 2008, then withdrawn after a protest from Bell H...