HAL LUH / Ka-226: News and Discussions
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Army to seek waiver from Defence Ministry to expedite helicopter deal
With the deal for Ka-226T utility helicopters with Russia not concluded five years after it was announced and its fleet of Cheetah and Chetak helicopters at the end of their service life, the Army is set to approach the Defence Ministry for a waiver to take the deal forward.
“About 75% of the Army’s fleet of Cheetah and Chetak helicopters is over 30 years old. Some of them are about 50 years old. We need urgent replacements. The Ka-226T deal with Russia has been stuck over indigenisation. So the Army is approaching the Ministry of Defence [MoD] for a waiver to conclude the deal,” a defence official said on condition of anonymity.
Operational capability
Stating that the operational capability has already been impacted due to deficiencies and non-availability of replacement, the official stated, “The total technical life of these helicopters will start finishing from 2023 onwards. So the existing deficiencies will keep increasing.”In 2015, India and Russia had concluded an Inter-Governmental Agreement (IGA) for at least 200 Ka-226T twin engine utility helicopters estimated to cost over $1 billion with 60 helicopters to be directly imported and remaining 140 manufactured locally. They are to replace the ageing and obsolete Cheetah and Chetak fleet of the Army and the Air Force.
A joint venture India Russia Helicopters Limited (IRHL) has been set up between Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) and Russian Helicopters (RH) which will assemble the helicopters in India. The Request For Proposal (RFP) issued by the MoD to IRHL for 200 helicopters stated 70% localisation over which the final deal has been held up as the JV quoted localisation of 62.4% in its response.
Efforts to resolve this impasse in the last few months by adopting a revised methodology has not made any progress, it has been learnt. As the RFP states 70% indigenous content, it cannot be modified. Withdrawing it and issuing a new one would mean another 2-3 years lost. “The Army is now in a desperate situation for replacements and is preparing to take the case to the Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) for a waiver to proceed with 62.4%,” the official stated.
Import content
“Even indigenous platforms like Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH) and Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) have significant import content. How can an imported and assembled platform meet 70% requirement,” the official questioned. According to a March 2020 report of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Defence, the ALH has 46% import content by value, LCA – 40% and SU-30MKI assembled by HAL with technology transfer also has 40%.The issue has been taken up by Army Chief General Manoj Naravane with Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, another official said. The Army has around 185 Cheetah and Chetak helicopters with around 20 helicopters with HAL for overhaul for around a year at any point of time.
The requirement
There is a requirement of around 400 such helicopters with the remaining to be met by the indigenous Light Utility helicopter being developed by HAL.The first helicopter would be delivered within 36 months from the signing of the contract and order completed in eight years. The helicopter is powered by a French engine and would have 74% Russian content and 26% European content. It is not possible to meet the 70% localisation requirement on 160 helicopters, a diplomatic source said.
At Defexpo 2020 in Lucknow early this year, officials from RH explained that the localisation plan would be spread over four phases beginning with 3.3% indigenisation for 35 helicopters, going to 15% for next 25 helicopters, 35% for 30 helicopters in Phase 3 and eventually to 62.4% indigenisation in Phase 4 for the last 50 helicopters.
If HAL can create a new entity with a private player, we should be able to manufacture 400 LUH in a 8 - 10 years time. The new infrastructure that is going to / coming up near Bangalore (Tumkur) to manufacture KA-226, should be utilized to manufacture the extra 200 LUH's. If HAL has done one thing well, it is its helicopter program. The Indian government should change course and get the LUH's manufactured in numbers, instead of waiting on Russia.
Even luh is only 60% indigenous by value. Expecting 70% for foreign chopper is too much.
How does a private player change anything?. Indo Russian Helicopter Pvt. Ltd. (IRHL) is technically that.
HAL can make LUH 60 per year when they get the order. Tumkur will be making LUH and Ka-226.
What I meant was that HAL would be stretched thin for resources and infrastructure to manufacture the likes of ALH, LCH & LUH. Hence the suggestion that it should bring in a private entity that would potentially bring in investment to setup and manufacture these birds. With HAL going for civil variants and their certification (ALH & LUH), you need someone to share the manufacturing and investment load.
There is no lack of infrastructure but orders. ALH is over expensive to operate for civil aviation. First, they need orders to have a separate manufacturing facility.
These private joint ventures with govt entity wont make much headway, there will always be obstructions. Another thing is to split up HAL helicopter division into two civil and military division. Given that they share infra and there will be fight for it. One of them obviously will not survive for long enough, just sell that division to a private player. Then we will have two entities with same technology fighting for the market.
I called for a joint venture with a private player for LUH to iron out all issues and have a working template before HAL does the same thing for AMCA. You don' want AMCA project to be the guinea pig where the risk and stakes are far higher.
LUH is a 100% HAL project with the majority of funding coming from MoD. They develop and produce.
AMCA is an ADA project with full state funding. HAL has no say in who will get the production. They are trying to assure their part in the production by partnering with the private sector.
Изготовлен демонстратор нового российского двигателя ВК-650В для вертолета Ка-226Т
Демонстратор двигателя ВК-650В, который заменит импортные силовые установки для вертолетов Ка-226Т, собран и установлен на испытательный стенд на «ОДК-Климов».
naukatehnika.com
Demonstrator of the VK-650V engine, which will replace imported power plants for Ka-226T helicopters, has been assembled and installed on a test stand at UEC-Klimov.
Will IAF?IA now can order an IOC LUH instead of costly foreign imports ? or FOC is necessary ?
MoD approved the development of the LUH to replace the Cheetah/Chetak helicopters in February 2009. The LUH is likely to receive FOC in 2021 & then enter production (~187 copies will be made). For an aviation project, it has gone from prototype to production stage rather quickly. pic.twitter.com/NE81CrDm9W
— Strategic Frontier (@strategicfront) February 21, 2021
Letter of Acceptance(LOA) for 12 helicopters – six each for the army and air force – has been received and work has started to produce the aircraft. The total requirement is 185.https://t.co/t67PhuDHZ7
— Strategic Frontier (@strategicfront) March 23, 2021
Army Aviation will receive the first batch of six indigenous Light Utility Helicopter (LUH) by the end of 2022.https://t.co/B5KBCbVrH9
— Strategic Frontier (@strategicfront) June 22, 2021
Modified version of the Ka-226T light helicopter
Russian Helicopters JSC (part of Rostec State Corporation), within the framework of the International Aviation and Space Salon MAKS-2021, presented for the first time a modified version of the Ka-226T light multipurpose helicopter in performance 226.54, called the Climber. The presented prototype of the modified helicopter became the first Ka-226 assembled at Ulan-Ude Aviation Plant JSC (UUAZ), the start of its flight tests is expected by the end of the year. A prototype of a modified version of the Ka-226T light multipurpose helicopter, version 226.54, named "Climber", is on display at the MAKS-2021 International Aviation and Space Salon. Zhukovsky, July 2021 (c) Russian Helicopters JSC
A press release from Russian Helicopters says:
A prototype helicopter was presented at the air show, which will begin a series of test flights in the fall. One of the key features of the upgraded Ka-226T helicopter is its ideal adaptability for high altitude flights; the modernization project received the working title "Alpinist". The machine has a coaxial rotor design, which provides good controllability at the most extreme altitudes in low air conditions, resistance to strong crosswinds, high climb rate, the ability to take off and land on sites located at high altitudes. Also, the Ka-226T helicopter is highly effective when flying over water surfaces. It can take off and land on the deck of even small sea vessels.
The machine is distinguished by a low vibration level, ease and simplicity of control, the ability to take off and land on sites of minimal dimensions (including in urban infrastructure), high hovering accuracy even when working with a load on an external sling, safety of passengers boarding when the propellers are working.
The upgraded Ka-226T differs significantly from the previous models of the Ka-226 family. The helicopter has a new airframe design with significantly improved aerodynamics. The fuselage is made using modern lightweight materials, the control system and the electrical system of the helicopter have been modernized, a shock-resistant accident-resistant fuel system has been installed that meets increased safety requirements. At the same time, the volume of fuel tanks was increased with the provision of centralized refueling. The helicopter is also equipped with a new complex of flight-navigation and radio communication equipment.
Compared to previous models, the updated Ka-226T will have improved flight performance. In particular, the flight speed will be increased, the weight of the empty helicopter will be reduced, the range of use will be increased, the vehicle will be able to be used at altitudes up to 6500 meters. The helicopter can optionally be equipped with oxygen equipment, ballonets, air conditioning and heating systems, certification for passenger transportation is planned.
Serial production of the Ka-226T Climber helicopter is planned to begin in 2022 at the Ulan-Ude Aviation Plant in close cooperation with the Kumertau Aviation Production Enterprise.
On the side of bmpd, we indicatethat, as you can understand, the modernized Ka-226T "Climber" (Сlimber), performance 226.54, is actually a modified Ka-226T under the requirements of the Indian side within the framework of the planned agreement on the supply of these helicopters to India and on the organization of joint production in India.
Work on the ROC "Modernization of the Ka-226T helicopter" at JSC Kamov (now JSC National Helicopter Engineering Center Mil and Kamov) was started under the contract dated July 2017. In June 2018, Kamov JSC, as part of this ROC, signed an agreement on the assembly at UUAZ of three prototypes of the Ka-226T helicopter in performance 226.54 for India (serial numbers OO1, OO2, OO3), with delivery in June-June 2021. Work on the construction of two of these experimental helicopters at UUAZ was reportedin 2020, the first of these experimental helicopters (apparently, OO1) is now ready.
Recall that in May 2015, the Defense Acquisition Council (DAC) of the Cabinet of Ministers of the Government of India decided to purchase 197 (then 200 appears) Russian light Ka-226T helicopters for the Indian Army Aviation and Navy. In October 2016, a Russian-Indian intergovernmental agreement was signed on the acquisition by India of 200 Ka-226T helicopters for the armed forces. According to the Russian-Indian agreement signed in December 2016on cooperation in the field of the helicopter industry, of these 200 helicopters, 60 should be delivered complete from Russia, and 140 should be assembled in India in Bangalore at the joint venture Indian Russian Helicopters Company Limited (IRHL), created by JSC Russian Helicopters and the Indian state aircraft manufacturer Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL). An intergovernmental agreement on the creation of this joint venture was signed in December 2015, and the joint venture itself was formalized in May 2017.
However, until now, mainly due to bureaucratic and political delays on the Indian side, the twin contract for the supply of Ka-226T helicopters to India and the organization of their joint production in India has not been concluded.
A prototype of a modified version of the Ka-226T light multipurpose helicopter, version 226.54, named "Climber", is on display at the MAKS-2021
Russian Helicopters JSC (part of Rostec State Corporation), within the framework of the International Aviation and Space Salon MAKS-2021, presented for the first time a modified version of the Ka-226T light multipurpose helicopter in performance 226.54, called the Climber. The presented prototype of the modified helicopter became the first Ka-226 assembled at Ulan-Ude Aviation Plant JSC (UUAZ), the start of its flight tests is expected by the end of the year. A prototype of a modified version of the Ka-226T light multipurpose helicopter, version 226.54, named "Climber", is on display at the MAKS-2021 International Aviation and Space Salon. Zhukovsky, July 2021 (c) Russian Helicopters JSC
A press release from Russian Helicopters says:
A prototype helicopter was presented at the air show, which will begin a series of test flights in the fall. One of the key features of the upgraded Ka-226T helicopter is its ideal adaptability for high altitude flights; the modernization project received the working title "Alpinist". The machine has a coaxial rotor design, which provides good controllability at the most extreme altitudes in low air conditions, resistance to strong crosswinds, high climb rate, the ability to take off and land on sites located at high altitudes. Also, the Ka-226T helicopter is highly effective when flying over water surfaces. It can take off and land on the deck of even small sea vessels.
The machine is distinguished by a low vibration level, ease and simplicity of control, the ability to take off and land on sites of minimal dimensions (including in urban infrastructure), high hovering accuracy even when working with a load on an external sling, safety of passengers boarding when the propellers are working.
The upgraded Ka-226T differs significantly from the previous models of the Ka-226 family. The helicopter has a new airframe design with significantly improved aerodynamics. The fuselage is made using modern lightweight materials, the control system and the electrical system of the helicopter have been modernized, a shock-resistant accident-resistant fuel system has been installed that meets increased safety requirements. At the same time, the volume of fuel tanks was increased with the provision of centralized refueling. The helicopter is also equipped with a new complex of flight-navigation and radio communication equipment.
Compared to previous models, the updated Ka-226T will have improved flight performance. In particular, the flight speed will be increased, the weight of the empty helicopter will be reduced, the range of use will be increased, the vehicle will be able to be used at altitudes up to 6500 meters. The helicopter can optionally be equipped with oxygen equipment, ballonets, air conditioning and heating systems, certification for passenger transportation is planned.
Serial production of the Ka-226T Climber helicopter is planned to begin in 2022 at the Ulan-Ude Aviation Plant in close cooperation with the Kumertau Aviation Production Enterprise.
On the side of bmpd, we indicatethat, as you can understand, the modernized Ka-226T "Climber" (Сlimber), performance 226.54, is actually a modified Ka-226T under the requirements of the Indian side within the framework of the planned agreement on the supply of these helicopters to India and on the organization of joint production in India.
Work on the ROC "Modernization of the Ka-226T helicopter" at JSC Kamov (now JSC National Helicopter Engineering Center Mil and Kamov) was started under the contract dated July 2017. In June 2018, Kamov JSC, as part of this ROC, signed an agreement on the assembly at UUAZ of three prototypes of the Ka-226T helicopter in performance 226.54 for India (serial numbers OO1, OO2, OO3), with delivery in June-June 2021. Work on the construction of two of these experimental helicopters at UUAZ was reportedin 2020, the first of these experimental helicopters (apparently, OO1) is now ready.
Recall that in May 2015, the Defense Acquisition Council (DAC) of the Cabinet of Ministers of the Government of India decided to purchase 197 (then 200 appears) Russian light Ka-226T helicopters for the Indian Army Aviation and Navy. In October 2016, a Russian-Indian intergovernmental agreement was signed on the acquisition by India of 200 Ka-226T helicopters for the armed forces. According to the Russian-Indian agreement signed in December 2016on cooperation in the field of the helicopter industry, of these 200 helicopters, 60 should be delivered complete from Russia, and 140 should be assembled in India in Bangalore at the joint venture Indian Russian Helicopters Company Limited (IRHL), created by JSC Russian Helicopters and the Indian state aircraft manufacturer Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL). An intergovernmental agreement on the creation of this joint venture was signed in December 2015, and the joint venture itself was formalized in May 2017.
However, until now, mainly due to bureaucratic and political delays on the Indian side, the twin contract for the supply of Ka-226T helicopters to India and the organization of their joint production in India has not been concluded.
A prototype of a modified version of the Ka-226T light multipurpose helicopter, version 226.54, named "Climber", is on display at the MAKS-2021
