HAL’s Cheetal Meets Indian Army’s Urgent Needs
AIN DEFENSE PERSPECTIVE » MARCH 1, 2013 by NEELAM MATHEWS HAL is manufacturing a re-engined version of the evergreen Alouette II and Lama helicopter series as the Cheetal for the Indian army. (Photo: HAL) March 1, 2013, 10:20 AM The Indian Army has placed a $77 million order with Hindustan Aeronautics ( HAL ) for 20 Cheetal helicopters, a re-engined variant of the Aerospatiale SA 316B Lama that was built under license in India as the Cheetah. The order is a short-term measure for logistics support to the Indian troops on the Siachen Glacier because of delays to the twice-bid competition for 197 reconnaissance and surveillance helicopters ( RSH ). The future of that requirement is uncertain . HAL has committed to “supply 20 Cheetals over the next four years besides providing training to its pilots and technical crew,” the company said in a statement. It has already delivered nine Cheetals from the 1...