<p>Move over from fighter jets. The buzz at Aero India 2015 is about helicopters, which could be the next big thing in Indian aviation.<br /><br /></p>.<p>In anticipation of several big ticket tenders from the defence ministry, major players in the helicopter market made a beeline for the Bangalore air show that provides an opportunity to the companies to discuss and select Indian partners, as per the ‘Make in India’ requirement.<br />“The 388 light utility helicopters have been opened up for ‘Make in India’. Most of the helicopter players did not bring their choppers for flying because they are busy in forming joint venture partnership,” said Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar on the first day of Aero India.<br /><br />In September, 2014, the defence ministry issued a fresh request for information to local vendors to manufacture 388 reconnaissance and surveillance aircraft (RSH) – also known as light utility helicopter – for the Indian Air Force (197) and Army Aviation Corps (191). This was done following cancellation of a previous tender for 197 helicopters a month back.<br />These choppers are meant for replacing the ageing fleet of Chetak and Cheetah helicopters, which are of 1959 and 1969 vintage respectively. Hindustan Aeronautics Limited licence-produce these French origin platforms for the armed forces.<br /><br />Airbus is pitching for the tender under the ‘buy and make (Indian)’ category with its AS550 C3e Fennec. So is the Russia’s United Aircraft Corporation with its Ka-226T.<br /><br />“The offer (Ka-226T) was made during the recent visit of Russian President Vladimir Putin to India and later reaffirmed by the Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu during his visit to India one month ago. The Russian side has given presentation of the project to Indian partners,” said Alexander M Kadakin, Russian Ambassador to India told Deccan Herald.<br />HAL too has readied its own single engine light utility helicopter, whose first flight is expected around August, 2015. US firms Bell Helicopters and Sikorsky are pitching for with their products.<br /><br />The RSH tender is not the only one in the pipeline. There other projects from the Navy and the Coast Guard, some of which are already in the negotiation. “India's overall requirements (of light utility helicopter for the military) is approximately 1,000 plus,” said Air Marshal (retd) M Matheswaran, advisor (strategy) to chairman, HAL.<br /><br />Sikorsky is negotiating with the Indian Navy for 16 multi-role helicopters with its S-70B Sea Hawk after the company was selected in December. The US firm is pitching for the Navy’s 120 multi role helicopters. Airbus’s AS565 MBe Panther too is competing for the same.<br /><br />Indian Navy faces an acute shortage of helicopters, and it is going to be more pronounced as more than 20 warships that requires on-board helicopters are under production at different shipyards. The Coast Guard too is looking for 14 choppers for its operations.<br /></p>
<p>Move over from fighter jets. The buzz at Aero India 2015 is about helicopters, which could be the next big thing in Indian aviation.<br /><br /></p>.<p>In anticipation of several big ticket tenders from the defence ministry, major players in the helicopter market made a beeline for the Bangalore air show that provides an opportunity to the companies to discuss and select Indian partners, as per the ‘Make in India’ requirement.<br />“The 388 light utility helicopters have been opened up for ‘Make in India’. Most of the helicopter players did not bring their choppers for flying because they are busy in forming joint venture partnership,” said Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar on the first day of Aero India.<br /><br />In September, 2014, the defence ministry issued a fresh request for information to local vendors to manufacture 388 reconnaissance and surveillance aircraft (RSH) – also known as light utility helicopter – for the Indian Air Force (197) and Army Aviation Corps (191). This was done following cancellation of a previous tender for 197 helicopters a month back.<br />These choppers are meant for replacing the ageing fleet of Chetak and Cheetah helicopters, which are of 1959 and 1969 vintage respectively. Hindustan Aeronautics Limited licence-produce these French origin platforms for the armed forces.<br /><br />Airbus is pitching for the tender under the ‘buy and make (Indian)’ category with its AS550 C3e Fennec. So is the Russia’s United Aircraft Corporation with its Ka-226T.<br /><br />“The offer (Ka-226T) was made during the recent visit of Russian President Vladimir Putin to India and later reaffirmed by the Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu during his visit to India one month ago. The Russian side has given presentation of the project to Indian partners,” said Alexander M Kadakin, Russian Ambassador to India told Deccan Herald.<br />HAL too has readied its own single engine light utility helicopter, whose first flight is expected around August, 2015. US firms Bell Helicopters and Sikorsky are pitching for with their products.<br /><br />The RSH tender is not the only one in the pipeline. There other projects from the Navy and the Coast Guard, some of which are already in the negotiation. “India's overall requirements (of light utility helicopter for the military) is approximately 1,000 plus,” said Air Marshal (retd) M Matheswaran, advisor (strategy) to chairman, HAL.<br /><br />Sikorsky is negotiating with the Indian Navy for 16 multi-role helicopters with its S-70B Sea Hawk after the company was selected in December. The US firm is pitching for the Navy’s 120 multi role helicopters. Airbus’s AS565 MBe Panther too is competing for the same.<br /><br />Indian Navy faces an acute shortage of helicopters, and it is going to be more pronounced as more than 20 warships that requires on-board helicopters are under production at different shipyards. The Coast Guard too is looking for 14 choppers for its operations.<br /></p>
