Tender for 76 Naval Utility Helicopters for Indian Navy & Coast Guard

[Ashwin]

Two different utility aircraft programs are ongoing for navy:

• DAC's AoN for 60 Utility Helicopters-Maritime under Buy (Indian-IDDM) category as a ‘Design and Development’ project from Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) on 29 March 2023.
• RFI for 76 Naval Utility Helicopters released on August 23, 2025: 51 for Indian Navy & 25 for Indian Coast Guard, Twin Engine, 5.5 tons limit. The platform should have been in service with a Navy for atleast 5 years.

So, It will fulfil the original requirement of 111 utility helicopters projected decades back.

 

[redpanda]

Two different utility aircraft programs are ongoing for navy:

• DAC's AoN for 60 Utility Helicopters-Maritime under Buy (Indian-IDDM) category as a ‘Design and Development’ project from Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) on 29 March 2023.
• RFI for 76 Naval Utility Helicopters released on August 23, 2025: 51 for Indian Navy & 25 for Indian Coast Guard, Twin Engine, 5.5 tons limit. The platform should have been in service with a Navy for atleast 5 years.

So, It will fulfil the original requirement of 111 utility helicopters projected decades back.

Are those 76 would be imported? If yes likely which platform?

 

[redpanda]

S76 or Panther (if Airbus is ready to restart the production line)

Ka31s are relatively newer. We need to keep working on them.

Once DBMRH is there, then we can replace them by 2035.

I doubt Airbus will restart the production line when they are already working on a project to replace those Panther in service. It would put a lot of logistical constraints on them. So perhaps S-76 is the most likely one..

 

[Speedster1]

I doubt Airbus will restart the production line when they are already working on a project to replace those Panther in service. It would put a lot of logistical constraints on them. So perhaps S-76 is the most likely one..

Airbus can simply start a new line for Panther at its H125 mfg facility with Tata. The Panther design has been sold to SoKo recently and the French would love to sign India on as perhaps the last customer for this 80s era bird.

 

[Ashwin]

S76 or Panther (if Airbus is ready to restart the production line)

I doubt Airbus will restart the production line when they are already working on a project to replace those Panther in service. It would put a lot of logistical constraints on them. So perhaps S-76 is the most likely one..

Sikorsky S-76 production to move to India? - HeliHub.com

Lockheed Martin are reportedly in talks with the Indian conglomerate Tata to move the S-76 production line to the subcontinent. Whether this represents a sale of the production rights or subcontracted manufacture is currently unclear. Following the end of the S-76C++ production in 2011, Sikorsky...

www.helihub.com

S-76 production line was also closed!.

 

[Ankit Kumar]

Sikorsky S-76 production to move to India? - HeliHub.com

Lockheed Martin are reportedly in talks with the Indian conglomerate Tata to move the S-76 production line to the subcontinent. Whether this represents a sale of the production rights or subcontracted manufacture is currently unclear. Following the end of the S-76C++ production in 2011, Sikorsky...

www.helihub.com

S-76 production line was also closed!.

They will have to revise the RFI and remove proven in naval service to allow other players/options.

 

[Ashwin]

https://twitter.com/x/status/2018591603657752736

 

[Sathya]

https://twitter.com/x/status/2024844526968512620

 

[_Anonymous_]

If this is the case what's wrong with the Ka-226t ? It's definitely of a more recent vintage as compared to its competitors which are positively ancient stuff from last century .

The only hitch is it's powered by Turbomeca TS. We can work out a via media.

https://twitter.com/x/status/2024844526968512620

Also underscores what I've been highlighting for sometime . Tie one arm of HAL behind their back by exercising control thru the babooodumb & throw HAL under the bus by accusing them of inefficiencies while denying them independence of operations & at the same time open the way for screwdrivergiri by the Pvt Sector exactly the reason you want HAL out , boasting about Atma Nirbharta every opportunity you get.

And this is in one of the rare product lines HAL actually has a decent track record in as far as product innovation & output goes.

Absolutely disgusting & pathetic state of affairs !

 

[Speedster1]

https://twitter.com/x/status/2024844526968512620

H-160 is Airbus' newest and most advanced product (super cool aesthetics too) Just entering service with the French armed forces, replacing the Panther (which I thought Airbus might pitch for NUH)

It is in the same class as Dhruv at around 5.5t. Airbus trying to undercut an established HAL product?

 

[Ad 04 30]

Shouldn't we have waited for UHM to be certified which could have been in 2-3 years?

Taking long term headache instead and complicating logistics


Not to mention, selecting the partner and negotiating will take year or more

 

[Sathya]

Shouldn't we have waited for UHM to be certified which could have been in 2-3 years?

Taking long term headache instead and complicating logistics


Not to mention, selecting the partner and negotiating will take year or more

Looks like we have settled for 50 % indigenous+ 50 % imported design for forces.
So that no one can screw the forces.

If this is the case what's wrong with the Ka-226t ? It's definitely of a more recent vintage as compared to its competitors which are positively ancient stuff from last century .

The only hitch is it's powered by Turbomeca TS. We can work out a via media.

Also underscores what I've been highlighting for sometime . Tie one arm of HAL behind their back by exercising control thru the babooodumb & throw HAL under the bus by accusing them of inefficiencies while denying them independence of operations & at the same time open the way for screwdrivergiri by the Pvt Sector exactly the reason you want HAL out , boasting about Atma Nirbharta every opportunity you get.

And this is in one of the rare product lines HAL actually has a decent track record in as far as product innovation & output goes.

Absolutely disgusting & pathetic state of affairs !

I think user feedback - designer perfecting the product seems deficient in our system.
Complicated by QA and QC.

Whatever happened to the recommendations to improve the efficiency of HAL.

 

[Ashwin]

https://twitter.com/x/status/2024844526968512620

I think he is guessing based on that poster alone.

It will not qualify based on the all-up weight criteria. The H-160M weighs 6 tons.

 

[Ad 04 30]

Looks like we have settled for 50 % indigenous+ 50 % imported design for forces.
So that no one can screw the forces.


I think user feedback - designer perfecting the product seems deficient in our system.
Complicated by QA and QC.

Whatever happened to the recommendations to improve the efficiency of HAL.

There won't be much requirement or justification for the remaining 60, so I doubt it will proceed smoothly or on time. This pretty much covers the replacement for Cheetah/Cheetak


Best approach would have been to get a dozen or so helicopters while rest are HAL UHM

 

[Sathya]

There won't be much requirement or justification for the remaining 60, so I doubt it will proceed smoothly or on time. This pretty much covers the replacement for Cheetah/Cheetak


Best approach would have been to get a dozen or so helicopters while rest are HAL UHM

TEDBF redux

 

[Aniruddha]

TEDBF redux

Unlike the TEDBF, the prototype of UH-M already exists and will take its FF in this financial year

 

[Speedster1]

I think he is guessing based on that poster alone.

It will not qualify based on the all-up weight criteria. The H-160M weighs 6 tons.

View attachment 49842

UHM is quite a bit heavier than the std Dhruv with all the extra mods like folding tail boom, segmented rotor blades + MR mission suite. ~5.8t AUW, iirc.

HAL had better hurry if they want to win.

 

[Aniruddha]

UHM is quite a bit heavier than the std Dhruv with all the extra mods like folding tail boom, segmented rotor blades + MR mission suite. ~5.8t AUW, iirc.

HAL had better hurry if they want to win.

Neither H160M nor AW169M have a folding tail boom, so I wonder how exactly are they planning to overcome that requirement.

We should see the first flight of UH-M this FY

 

[Speedster1]

If this is the case what's wrong with the Ka-226t ? It's definitely of a more recent vintage as compared to its competitors which are positively ancient stuff from last century .

The only hitch is it's powered by Turbomeca TS. We can work out a via media.

The Russians themselves use only a handful of Ka-226. Why buy a brochure (naval version) and make it a working product on our dime?

 

[Ad 04 30]

Neither H160M nor AW169M have a folding tail boom, so I wonder how exactly are they planning to overcome that requirement.

We should see the first flight of UH-M this FY

Defence Matrix said that it has already flown

He was very active during Wings India last month