Taped on the cockpit door of an Army Aviation Corps Dhruv Advanced Light Helicopter is a small sign that is a grim reminder that military logistics isn’t cheap: ‘Flying cost, Rs 7,17,000 per hour.’
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Mi-17 chopper fleet could not be upgraded even after 18 years’
The CAG report also noted that the upgradation of Medium Lift Mi-17 Helicopters, proposed in 2002 to overcome their “operational limitation”, could not be achieved even after 18 years.
“As a result, these helicopters were flying with limited capability, thus compromising operational preparedness during these years,” it said.
The CAG further said that due to poor planning by the Ministry of Defence and indecision at various stages of procurement, it took 15 years to enter into the upgradation contract of 90 Mi-17 helicopters with an Israeli company — in January 2017.
The audit also states that while the contracted delivery of these upgraded helicopters had to begin July 2018 and was to be completed by 2024, 56 of these helicopters, even after upgradation, would be left with less than two years of life and would be phased out by 2024
The CAG report also noted that the upgradation of Medium Lift Mi-17 Helicopters, proposed in 2002 to overcome their “operational limitation”, could not be achieved even after 18 years.
“As a result, these helicopters were flying with limited capability, thus compromising operational preparedness during these years,” it said.
The CAG further said that due to poor planning by the Ministry of Defence and indecision at various stages of procurement, it took 15 years to enter into the upgradation contract of 90 Mi-17 helicopters with an Israeli company — in January 2017.
The audit also states that while the contracted delivery of these upgraded helicopters had to begin July 2018 and was to be completed by 2024, 56 of these helicopters, even after upgradation, would be left with less than two years of life and would be phased out by 2024
I think HAL should invest they're money and start working on a 15-ton helicopter, They have a very stable design team, and a 15-ton helicopter is very much possible with this team. At least the team should look for the required engine later they can replace with similar indigenous engines.
Exactly,28 years mean MI17 is approaching to end of its life. If HAL starts the work by now,they can fullfill our needs.
After the order of 83 LCA, MOD should force HAL to invest money in the development of this 15-ton helicopter project.
Its government company after all , government need not to force HAL,they are bound to follow what goi is asks them to do. They even sent the three lch to Ladakh for military use without securing a single order or without getting paid for that three copters.
What you are trying to convey?
Matlab kuch bhi ? Abhi inke sirf CEMILAC certification me minimum 18 months hain.
All that is happening is user trials. Nothing else.
LCH lacks ATGM, A2A missiles and it's Self Protection Suite. Without these the IAF itself won't certify the airframe without which nothing can actually be used even just for surveillance duties.
Asper media report LCH is in active duty at Ladakh,it may be only for surveillance as of now. Even Apaches are using there for surveillance. We will come to know LCH nature of duty in combat once indo Chinese military clash starts.
And LCH do have pencil rockets for air to surface role and mistal missile for air to air duty,so in actual combat there is a room for LCH.
By the way what I wrote above is three LCH were transferred to the military by HAL without taking a single rupee,do you have any doubt in it?
Which media lol ?
This is not how things work in IAF.
Who will be responsible if anything happens to the pilot for flying an uncertified aircraft? HAL , IAF or PM ? Even the Mig21s actually are certified and then are flown.
1. Only Mistral Launchers were bought. No missiles have been bought.
2. Unguided rockets were ordered only 6 months back. Will take time to actually start the deliveries.
Even for surveillance role the LCH will need it's Self Protection Suite, else even 80s era Strela Manpad will shoot it down, forget about modern MANPADs.
Actually Rudra is more capable than LCH on actually having its SPS Integrated.
Two-year residual life of 56 Mi-17s after ₹223-crore upgrade untenable: CAG
What was IAF thinking here? Maybe they can switch the equipment to never versions after these airframes retire?
Currently, HAL is executing an order for delivery of 72 helicopters for the Indian armed forces and Indian Coast Guard (ICG). The orders are for delivery of 40 Dhruv MkIII helicopters for the Indian Army (IA), 16 Dhruv MkIII helicopters for the ICG and 16 Dhruv MkIII helicopters for the Indian Navy (IN).
Out of the 40-helicopter order for the Indian Army – 22 are Dhruv Mark III utility helicopters and the remaining 18 are what we call as Weapon System Integrated (WSI) or ‘Rudra’ armed helicopters. HAL has completed production of the 22 utility helicopters ordered by the Army, ahead of the contracted delivery schedule. Out of the remaining order of 18 WSI helicopters, we have completed six helicopters.
As of October 1st week, I can tell you that the build of helicopters of 38 helicopters for IA, ICG and IN is over and we have completed their production. The remaining 34 helicopters will be completed by HAL in the middle of 2022-23.
There's limited scope for twin engine helicopters in civil market in India in my opinion. And without the European Certification, it will struggle to sell.
The single engine LUH has better prospects of replacing AW and Bells we have flying in VIP/VVIP roles today across the country.
1 additional was ordered for Navy I think bringing number to 17 from Navy.