India to have Three Lines of Light Military Choppers under ‘Make in India'

Kamov KA-226T Light Utility Helicopter

NEW DELHI: To meet the massive, urgent requirements of the armed forces, India is set to have three different lines of light military choppers, all of which will be manufactured under the 'Make in India' initiative.

Senior officials have told ET that despite a deal with the Russian government for Ka 226 helicopters, two other lines, including a western chopper that it still to be selected will be required to keep pace with the demand of the three forces.

Indicating that a major 'Make in India' project for the private sector to produce close to 200 helicopters in partnership with a foreign vendor is still alive despite the Kamov deal, a senior air force functionary said that tenders for the program would be out soon.

Indian requirement for light choppers is in excess of 800 with the older Cheetah/Chetak fleet moving towards the end of its service life.

While a competition to replace the choppers had been on in various forms since 2005, in a surprise move, the government announced a direct deal with Russia in May for 200 of the Ka 226 helicopters.

Sources said the Russian deal has, however, not progressed satisfactorily, as Moscow has not yet responded with full details of technical specifications and production plans in India since a formal letter was issued in May.

This had left doubts on whether a parallel competition for similar light choppers that more than a dozen Indian private companies including Tata, Mahindra, L&T and Reliance Defence Systems are bidding for would continue.

"The requirement is so large that a single line is not adequate. We will need to have more than one type of chopper just to meet our needs. Besides, the commercial market for these choppers is also large," a senior official told ET, adding that a 'western line' is fully in the picture.