JOIN USHindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) has signed a contract worth Rs 418 crore with the Ministry of Defence for supply of 20 Cheetal helicopters and associated equipment to the Indian Army over the next four years.
In an official note, HAL said that it will also provide training to the pilots and the technical crew. “This is the first contract for supply of Cheetal helicopters to the Indian Army. HAL had the initial order for 10 Cheetal helicopters from Indian Air Force,” it said.
Cheetal is the re-engined variant (developed as company funded programme) of the proven Cheetah helicopter being manufactured by HAL for over four decades. The Cheetal is equipped with a Turbomeca TM 333-2M2 free turbine turboshaft engine which is more fuel efficient and provides higher payload capability of 90-kgs at an altitude of 6-kms.
Cheetal helicopter can operate up to seven kms altitude and has a range of 640 kms with an endurance of 3.50 hours. “It is fitted with a full authority digital engine control (FADEC) system for engine control and an Electronic Backup Control Box (EBCB) system which automatically takes over engine control in the event of FADEC failure,” the PSU said. A multi-role helicopter, Cheetal incorporates features of modern cockpit instruments and is best suited for the missions, including personnel transport and casualty evacuation.