Aerospace Diary

AIN DEFENSE PERSPECTIVE  »  FEBRUARY 15, 2013 by    NEELAM MATHEWS HAL’s light combat helicopter (LCH) was on display at the Aero India show. (Photo: Vladimir Karnozov) February 15, 2013, 12:18 PM Indian light helicopter requirements remain subject to a   bureaucratic procurement process. The program to acquire 197 reconnaissance and surveillance helicopters ( RSH ) is close to being scrapped, but Hindustan Aeronautics ( HAL ) has inked a contract for 187 light utility helicopters ( LUH ).  HAL  is also proposing the LUH  for a new Indian Navy requirement. Meanwhile,  HAL  continues to develop its light combat helicopter ( LCH ), which  first flew in March 2010 . The   RSH   program was supposed to replace 230 aging Chetaks (Aerospatiale   SA316 Alouette   III ) and Cheetahs ( SE316B   Alouette   II ). The single-engine Eurocopter AS550C3   and twin-engine Ka...

  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 The request for proposal for the LUHs was first released in 2008, then withdrawn after a protest from Bell H...