Indian Naval Aviation : Updates and Discussions

Saw some tweets and a zee news article that an RFP has been issued to Tata for 15 C295 airframes which would be used for Maritime Patrol conversions.

Not posting them here as I think all of them took it from an **** article posted 2 days back.
 
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Ankit Kumar said:
I feel the original requirement of 111 NUH has been broken down.

51 NUH of foreign design. And 60 of UHM if HAL is able to get it done.

Else 60 follow on foreign design.
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Which foreign design qualifies for this requirement? And if 60 nos have been reserved for the UHM why not the rest of the 51 ? Was under the impression UHM has been certified.

After all this kerfuffle between the IN & HAL over the UHM, folded blades et al has been going on since 2019 IIRC. Hasn't HAL sorted out pending issues with the UHM till date?
 
_Anonymous_ said:
Which foreign design qualifies for this requirement? And if 60 nos have been reserved for the UHM why not the rest of the 51 ? Was under the impression UHM has been certified.

After all this kerfuffle between the IN & HAL over the UHM, folded blades et al has been going on since 2019 IIRC. Hasn't HAL sorted out pending issues with the UHM till date?
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Eurocopter Dauphin 2 maybe
 
FalconSlayers said:
Eurocopter Dauphin 2 maybe
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The Panther/Dauphin went out of production in 2021 and is set to replaced by H160M 2028 onwards in French military service. It doesn't meet the weight requirement though; H160's MTOW is 6050kg, 550kg above what the IN/ICG desires as per the RFI.

TL;DR: Panther is out of production and the replacement H160M doesn't meet weight and minimum service criterion.
 
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_Anonymous_ said:
Which foreign design qualifies for this requirement?
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TASL is already pitching S76 for the requirement. Kind of fits in the 1st glance.


_Anonymous_ said:
And if 60 nos have been reserved for the UHM why not the rest of the 51 ?
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As of now it's just Navy trying to buy insurance against HAL. Let's see what happens with UH-M.


_Anonymous_ said:
Was under the impression UHM has been certified.
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First flight was supposed to happen this year. No news of it's prototype.
 
It'd be a pity if the IN ultimately decided to ditch UHM. IIRC, it was the first to induct ALH (N) in a land based role (despite the initial feedback not being good)
 
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They will be inducting 60 UHM. I like this approach of not putting all your eggs in one basket. Have two projects - one desi other foreign. One will give you capability building other will give you quick results.

This approach should have been the get go for all the major requirements but jo we want desi even though can't deliver on time. Both should go in parallel till we truly mature.
 
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Fatalis said:
They will be inducting 60 UHM. I like this approach of not putting all your eggs in one basket. Have two projects - one desi other foreign. One will give you capability building other will give you quick results.

This approach should have been the get go for all the major requirements but jo we want desi even though can't deliver on time. Both should go in parallel till we truly mature.
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Especially in situations where the requirements are critical. Like this, light utility helicopters for the forces.
 
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Ankit Kumar said:
TASL is already pitching S76 for the requirement. Kind of fits in the 1st glance.
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S-76 is from Sikorsky. Didn't know TASL has a tie up with them & Airbus simultaneously. Besides the original design is of the 1970s vintage.
Ankit Kumar said:
As of now it's just Navy trying to buy insurance against HAL. Let's see what happens with UH-M.




First flight was supposed to happen this year. No news of it's prototype.
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Frankly even when this ruckus made the news I couldn't understand why did the modifications like folded blades principally among other ones needed 3 years to develop & certify ?

This was somewhere between 2019-21 IIRC. We're now in 2025 & HAL still hasn't flown the prototype as you're reporting. Hence the entire concept isn't certified either .

Unbelievable !! What're your thoughts ? You were around when this entire tamasha started. Why does it take so long for what seems rudimentary modifications ?! @Milspec
 
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Ankit Kumar said:
Especially in situations where the requirements are critical. Like this, light utility helicopters for the forces.
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The same model will be implemented in MRH project. We have already received 24 MH-60R and we are planning to get 66 DBMRH but the overall requirement is of 123 MRH. So, either we will increase the number of DBMRH or we will order additional MH-60R.
 
Fatalis said:
They will be inducting 60 UHM. I like this approach of not putting all your eggs in one basket. Have two projects - one desi other foreign. One will give you capability building other will give you quick results.

This approach should have been the get go for all the major requirements but jo we want desi even though can't deliver on time. Both should go in parallel till we truly mature.
Click to expand...
Ankit Kumar said:
Especially in situations where the requirements are critical. Like this, light utility helicopters for the forces.
Click to expand...
Mixed feelings about this although in principle can't deny the logic behind it . Hptrs was one area where HAL has done reasonably well .

The ALH has been for more than 2 decades & has enjoyed reasonable amount of success without going hyperbolic over its performance.

Hence the theory of going in for parallel imports till the desi one matures doesn't stand in this case for the platform itself is as mature as can be .

And it's because the ALH has been around for > 2 decades , any modifications to this platform oughtn't to be as big an issue as it has become. Don't know where the problems lie ?
 
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Fatalis said:
The same model will be implemented in MRH project. We have already received 24 MH-60R and we are planning to get 66 DBMRH but the overall requirement is of 123 MRH. So, either we will increase the number of DBMRH or we will order additional MH-60R.
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Yes Livefist already reported that we are negotiating for a follow on MH60R order.

I would be happy, another 24 Romeos will help us take out all the remaining SeaKings and Ka28PLs in the interim.
 
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A follow-on order of another 24 MH-60R Romeos is a no-brainer, much like 6 additional P-8Is. A total of 48 Romeos still leaves room for more DB-MRH procurement down the line, including their AEW variant, while allowing the IN some breathing room until I/DBMRH enters serial production.

Regarding the NUH, I feel like it's tailor-made for HAL UHM, but at the same time won't be surprised if HAL doesn't deliver on time. I'll be mildly disappointed.
 
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