Posted on 10/02/2004 10:21:17 PM PDT by sukhoi-30mki
Army to import helicopters for Siachen duty
By Sandeep Dikshit
NEW DELHI, OCT. 2. Even as India and Pakistan discuss the possibility of demilitarising the Siachen Glacier, called the highest battleground in the world, the Army is going ahead with long-term plans to ferry its troops and keep them replenished in the region with supplies of food and ammunition.
The Army has received helicopters, especially designed for operation in high altitude areas from three major manufacturers based in Russia, the United States and Europe. Based at an Army base in Punjab, these helicopters are being checked for technical specifications. They will be taken to Leh, which is flanked by the high altitude areas of Kargil and Siachen — after winter sets in for trials, said Army sources.
The Army's plans to import helicopters for high altitude operations could mean that it does not believe that the public sector Hindustan Aeronautics Limited would be able to deliver a similar helicopter in the near future. It also means that the HAL-built advanced light helicopter (ALH) is still not configured for high altitude operations. The Army began looking for an imported alternative three years ago after an ALH prototype failed high altitude thrust and vibration tests.
The Army is now using the Cheetah and Chetak helicopters for such purposes. Though they have been upgraded by the HAL, their design is 40 to 45 years old. The need for a new chopper has been acutely felt, especially after the 1999 Kargil conflict when the Army's surveillance and casualty evacuation duties in the region increased manifold.
Sources said the three foreign-manufactured helicopters in the race are the Bell 407, a Kamov version and the Eurocopter being manufactured by several countries. In fact, sensing the Army's need for imported choppers, a Bell 407 recently landed on a northern Nepal Himalayan mountain range at an altitude of over 22,000 feet, the same height as the Siachen Glacier, as if to prove that it would be the right choice. The Kamov-60 and the Eurocopter also claim a similar flight ceiling.
However, highly-placed HAL sources said the Army's plans to import high altitude helicopters did not diminish the capability of their indigenously-designed ALH, named Dhruv. It had been accepted by the Nepalese Army and was among the frontrunners in a tender by the Chilean Army. Besides, the 201 Army Aviation Corps based at Nashik already had a squadron of 10 ALHs. Another Army unit would also soon have an all-ALH complement. "They are looking at smaller helicopters that can carry five to six persons and are in the two-three tonne class. Our ALHs are in the six tonne class,'' said an official.
1.Bell 407- http://www.bellhelicopter.com/en/aircraft/commercial/bell407.cfm
2.Kamov KA-60 http://www.airforce-technology.com/projects/ka_60/
PS-the original article stated the Kamov chopper as the KA-50,which is an attack chopper,which is of little use on the Siachen glacier-so Im pretty sure it was an error & changed it to the KA-60 medium utility chopper.
Ka-50 is the Hokum, an attack helicopter with coaxial propellors. It is also called the Black Alligator.
I always heard that the venerable Huey's were high altitude cold weather champs.
Well,if India chooses to buy a KA-50 variant,it will most probably be the 2 seat KA-52,which was jointly developed by Israel & Russia.This variant has Israeli avionics & defensive suites & primarily carries Russian missiles & rockets,though it is also compatible with Israeli/NATO weapons.It was originally to have been sold to Turkey,who backed out at the last moment.
India already operates MI-25/35 series Hinds ,which were recently upgraded by Israeli aircraft industries with Helmet mounted sights,FLIR,ECM etc,so I don't see any imminent need for the Kamov as India is also developing an attack chopper of it's own called the LCH(light combat helo) ,a venture in which it could also have French or Israeli assistance.
All I know is that I was a passenger in 5 that lost tail rotors and we had to auto-rotate in for a landing. Even put one down on Olive Ann Beach's (Beach Aircraft Diva) front lawn when I was stationed at McConnell AFB in Wichita KS. She gave us iced tea while we waited for "rescue".....it was tough. Didn't think I was gonna live thru that survival situation. Chiggers all over her lawn.
Stay safe !
Whether it is manufactured in other countries or not,Eurocopter's fortunes have been on an upswing of late.Their NH-90 has been selected by the Australian & Omani armies in the medium troop transport role & the naval variant of NH-90 is being evaluated by the navies of several countries including India & Singapore.Plus their rather 'poorly planned' Tiger attack chopper has been selected by Australia & Spain.
Not so quick! Some of those 'Euro' designs serve in the US forces today. Ask Boeing, Lockheed or Bell. Those manufacturers have programs to market and manufacture Euro medium-lift helos for the US military. The next Presidential helo could well be based on a Euro design.
http://www.agustawestland.com/products01_01.asp?id_product=25
Well, my snickering was based on the premise that European countries have to band together to compete in the world market. I find it slightly humorous.
Eurocopter is actually a consortium between 2 countries -France & Germany & a minor Spanish stake exists as well.It has a number of agreements with other European countries as well including Britain & Italy.But the Brits,Italians & Swedes all have their own companies.The Anglo-Italian JV,AgustaWestland is infact a competitor to Eurocopter with the NH-90 vs the EH-101 .
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