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National

More turbulence on the copter front?

Sandeep Dikshit

Ministry may cancel deal for 80 helicopters with Russia

A decision at meeting could impact tender for 317 helicopters
Strong possibility of the number of copters swelling to 397

NEW DELHI: The armed forces attempt to modernise its helicopter fleet could suffer another setback with the Ministry of Defence planning to cancel its deal for 80 medium lift multi-role Mi-17 1V helicopters with Russia on grounds that they are too expensive.

Earlier, the tender for 197 helicopters for the Army was cancelled at the last moment, triggering diplomatic protests from the U.S. and France, whose companies were in contention for the order.

Although the Mi-17 IV has met all the air staff requirements and the Indian Air Force (IAF) expected the helicopters to begin arriving last year, the negotiations for the deal have dragged on for two years, prompting the Defence Ministry to consider terminating the talks and putting out a fresh global tender.

The IAF was keen on acquiring the Mi-17 IV because of the satisfactory performance by its predecessors, the Mi-17 and Mi-8.

A decision either way on the fate of the Mi-17 IV at the Defence Acquisition Council meeting this week could also impact a combined Army-IAF tender for 317 helicopters, including the 197 light multi-role chopper tender that was cancelled after the Eurocopter cleared the technical parameters, while the U.S. company, Bell, was knocked out. However, the Defence Ministry detected an infringement of tender conditions and decided to scrap the deal.

While France complained that Eurocopter was cheated of an almost certain order, the U.S. complained of a lack of level playing field and felt Bell was unfairly sidelined. With the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Defence urging the armed forces to combine tenders for common equipment, reluctant armed forces agreed to club this tender for 197 helicopters with the IAF’s requirement for 115 helicopters.

In case the Defence Ministry decides not to entertain any more requests for negotiations with Russia’s sole armament exporting company Rosobornexport, there is a strong possibility of the 317 helicopter tender swelling to 397 to accommodate the 80 medium lift helicopters required by the Army. Most of the helicopters would be replacements for the ones that had served the Indian armed forces for decades and are in dire need of being decommissioned.

Most of the 317 helicopters would do duty in high altitude areas such as the Siachen Glacier, the Line of Control and in serving the troops posted along the Line of Actual Control with China. Though the Russian Kamov was knocked out of the earlier tender for 197 helicopters since its prototype was not ready at that time, the company will be given another chance along with the Bell, Eurocopter and the Italian Augusta Westland.

The Navy is also looking for purchasing 16 anti submarine warfare helicopters to replace the Sea Kings. In all, it requires about 40 helicopters. The Coast Guard is also planning to purchase a dozen helicopters primarily for surveillance of the coast in south India.

The Ministry has also finalised plans to buy 166 ‘Dhruv’ helicopters from Hindustan Aeronautics Limited. Officials believe that the land version of the Dhruv has, by and large, overcome troubles that led to the grounding of the fledgling fleet.

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