Now that Modi ji has gone to Ukraine and hugged Zelensky, US may speed up all the delayed deliveries to usIndian Army awaiting batch delivery of Apache attack helicopters from US
As part of a $600 million deal signed in 2020 with the US, the Indian Army is expecting delivery of six Apache helicopters, which has been delayed for over 3 months.
We regularly get pics of Chetak from Southern Command. I think it's more than just 4.Helicopters:
1.HAL Rudra = 75
2.HAL Dhruv = 76/95
3.HAL Cheetah = 160
4.HAL Cheetal = 04*
5.HAL Lancer = 12
6.HAL Chetak = 04*
7.HAL Chetan = 04*
8. HAL Prachand LCH = 05/95
This opens up room for HAL to gauge the Army's interest in a LCH MK2 or even a much talked about MCH, based on the IMRH design.Now that Modi ji has gone to Ukraine and hugged Zelensky, US may speed up all the delayed deliveries to us![]()
Let HAL integrate and certify Self Protection Suite & ATGM on LCH first.This opens up room for HAL to gauge the Army's interest in a LCH MK2 or even a much talked about MCH, based on the IMRH design.
Imo, scaling the LCH from a 5.6t to 7t class with extra armour and all other bells and whistles found on heavier AHs shouldn't be too much of a problem.
In fact, the ALH design should itself be stretched to create a 'medium' twin. The IMRH anyways weighs in at 13t. Latest avionics, new engines, modular weapons etc.
We should borrow a leaf from the Chinese on continuous iteration. Look what they've done with the 70s-era French-origin Super Frelon helo. They are now flying a 3rd or 4th gen variant of this bird as the Z-8L.
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You want to double the size of ALH? This is not vande bharat to put additional rakes and call it express. No one can do it.This opens up room for HAL to gauge the Army's interest in a LCH MK2 or even a much talked about MCH, based on the IMRH design.
Imo, scaling the LCH from a 5.6t to 7t class with extra armour and all other bells and whistles found on heavier AHs shouldn't be too much of a problem.
In fact, the ALH design should itself be stretched to create a 'medium' twin. The IMRH anyways weighs in at 13t. Latest avionics, new engines, modular weapons etc.
We should borrow a leaf from the Chinese on continuous iteration. Look what they've done with the 70s-era French-origin Super Frelon helo. They are now flying a 3rd or 4th gen variant of this bird as the Z-8L.
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You want to double the size of ALH? This is not vande bharat to put additional rakes and call it express. No one can do it.
That I do. The basic ALH design has spawned a whole family of helos we can be proud of - from 3t+ to approx 6T. A 13T class is currently in the works. Imho, with a 7t class ALH++ in its line-up, HAL could possibly target civilian (offshore O&G, corporate) operators and provide an interim solution to the ICG which needs bigger helos for SAR. iirc, the IMRH has not yet been funded so there's scope for an improved Dhruv in the meantime.At least admire the fact that we have our own independent design without stealing.
Who determines the gap? The requirements are provided by the services. HAL has to assess the feasibility of developing such a new variant.No, not double. Around 7t MTOW (up from 5.5t currently) is what I meant. Such a variant would fill the gap in HAL' s portfolio between 5t+ weight class and the 13t class. Something like what the AW159 Wildcat is to the Super Lynx 300 (not comparing weights)
LUH is a new development. LCH is based on ALH.That I do. The basic ALH design has spawned a whole family of helos we can be proud of - from 3t+ to approx 6T. A 13T class is currently in the works. Imho, with a 7t class ALH++ in its line-up, HAL could possibly target civilian (offshore O&G, corporate) operators and provide an interim solution to the ICG which needs bigger helos for SAR. iirc, the IMRH has not yet been funded so there's scope for an improved Dhruv in the meantime.
The requirements are provided by the services. HAL has to assess the feasibility of developing such a new variant
How did you reach Z-18 from that?
And yet HAL has developed a civil version of the Dhruv with the older Turbomeca 2B2 engine. Imo, it all depends on marketing (and after-sales service). Civilian requirements are not as stringent as military ones. The biggest USP is spares and logistics are fully local. HAL could sell to govt-owned cos like Pawan Hans. iirc they have a deal with them.Selling a military-designed helicopter for high altitudes to civilians is difficult
That was largely because of poor communication by HAL.It took decades of back and forth even to get the navy to agree on ALH
Commonality of parts with mil helos should help keep costs low.It will never be economical for a civilian to operate ALH.
Agree. But the civilian demand is increasing. HAL is actively positioning itself in the market as a local alternative to foreign manufacturers.HAL is fundamentally a military aerospace company under MoD majority ownership
Who said anything about new? I was talking about a stretched version with improved features. The Dhruv needs an re-brand to appeal to commercial users, since it has been in the market for a while. Imo, extending the cabin by 2-3m, adding extra seats and other role-specific equipment should help it sell.It is too much to expect them to make a new 7-ton helicopter for specific civilian use cases.
Lol. You are giving the opposite. I mentioned a requirement from services, not confidence. There has always been a need for 180 basic trainers, and the HTT-40 was developed to meet that requirement.That goes without saying. However, there have been ocassions when HAL has developed and built ac on its own, despite clear lack of interest from the users. Case in point: HTT-40.
That doesn't make sense. Which helicopter did they not upgrade pre ALH? They are still producing upgraded Alouettes.The point I wanted to make was that even a 70s-era relic can be kept relevant with iterative upgrades. HAL has developed several marks of the ALH but without airframe upgrades. Not that it's a bad thing but I'm advocating a bolder approach.
No one is stopping them from creating a civil version. The old civil ALH is just the Mk1 with civil recertification, which was a huge failure due to the reasons I listed.And yet HAL has developed a civil version of the Dhruv with the older Turbomeca 2B2 engine. Imo, it all depends on marketing (and after-sales service). Civilian requirements are not as stringent as military ones. The biggest USP is spares and logistics are fully local. HAL could sell to govt-owned cos like Pawan Hans. iirc they have a deal with them.
No, because it is not designed for shipborne operations. "Communication" wont fix a bad product for a particular requirement.That was largely because of poor communication by HAL.
The stretched version would be a new helicopter altogether. These kinds of comments come from a lack of understanding the complexities of aeronautical development. You can't just increase the size and rebrand it as MAX PRO. It is a huge undertaking. As a military PSU its not reasonable to expect HAL to undertake such a development without assured market opportunity which they get from services.Who said anything about new? I was talking about a stretched version with improved features. The Dhruv needs an re-brand to appeal to commercial users, since it has been in the market for a while. Imo, extending the cabin by 2-3m, adding extra seats and other role-specific equipment should help it sell.