Army Aviation looking at phasing out Cheetah, Chetak helicopters

New Delhi: India is set to begin phasing out its ageing Cheetah/Chetak helicopter fleet with Army Aviation looking to purchase around 80 light utility helicopters from Hindustan Aeronautics Limited, Bengaluru, in the first batch, besides exploring the options of leasing a few from a private vendor.

The Cheetah/Chetak fleet that serves the forces across landscapes, from icy heights of the Siachen glacier to the Thar desert, is on the last leg of a six decades-long journey in Indian armed forces.

“The phasing out will start in another 3-4 years when their technical life will be over. By then the LUH should be ready,” said a senior official. It will take about 10-12 years to replace the entire fleet.

The demand to retire the ageing rotary wing aircraft has gained traction in recent years in the wake of a string of accidents including several fatal ones.

Out of 246 Cheetah/Chetak helicopters, the Indian Army Aviation Corps currently operates around 190 choppers, out of which nearly 30 are in maintenance.

While the Army and the IAF together have a requirement of over 450 light utility helicopters, the Army will need around 250 of them.

The single-engine Army variant of the LUH received the initial operational clearance in February 2021, but the absence of an autopilot feature was a drawback. HAL is prepping the fitment and the first chopper with the auto-pilot will be ready by December 2024.

“In terms of performance, the LUH is 25-30% better than Cheetah/Chetak,” said an official, familiar with the indigenous helicopter programme. The leased helicopters, sources said, would be used mainly for surveillance and reconnaissance.

The LUH is a three-ton class new generation single-engine helicopter with features suitable for operations in the diverse operating conditions unique to India. It is powered by a single turboshaft engine Ardiden 1U manufactured by Safran Helicopter Engine with adequate power margins to accomplish high-altitude missions in the Himalayas with ease.

The homegrown utility chopper is equipped with Smart Cockpit Display System (Glass Cockpit), state-of-the-art HUMS (Health & Usage Monitoring System) and is designed for various utility and armed roles.

The Defence Ministry has so far approved the purchase of 12 limited series production (LSP) versions of the LUH, six for the Army and six for IAF.

With threats from China's People's Liberation Army along the northern borders showing no signs of abating, the Indian Army is also enhancing its armed helicopter fleets. It has relocated its first Prachand Light Combat Helicopter squadron to Missamari in Assam, which is in proximity to India's disputed boundary with China. Missamari is the third Army Aviation Brigade, following Jodhpur and Leh.

The first batch of six Apache attack helicopters, equipped with Stinger air-to-air missiles and Hellfire Longbow air-to-ground missiles, is expected to be delivered to the Army between February and June next year. The Apaches can operate effectively in high-altitude areas.