Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd. has re-initiated its next big helicopter proposal, which is to design and produce a 12-tonne twin-engine multipurpose helicopter for India and other countries.
Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar unveiled at the Aero India 2017 on Wednesday a full sized mock-up of the IMRH or the Indian Multi-Role Helicopter, in the presence of Goa Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar and HAL CMD T. Suvarna Raju.
The ambitious project to design and make a medium-lift helicopter for the armed forces has been in the offing for several years. About a decade back, HAL had invited bids from global helicopter majors to co-develop this class of helicopters, but the plan did not take off.
According to HAL, the proposed helicopter can lift double the capacity that is available on its Dhruv advanced light helicopter which is in the five-tonne class.
Apart from domestic orders, “HAL will target export orders, aiming to replace ageing fleet of similar class of helicopters that are operational in more than 40 air forces,” an official statement said.
The proposal must get cleared by the HAL board before it formally gets to the drawing board. The army alone may require an estimated 400 helicopters of this class, an official said.
The IMRH is conceived for flying up to a height of 20,000 feet, carry 24 people or a load of 3,500 kg. An army and IAF variants can hover as well as transport large number of personnel or heavy cargo at high altitude. A separate naval version is also being planned.
HAL said it would be useful for troop transport, search and rescue during combat, VVIP transport, action at the ground and offshore, as air ambulance, evacuation of casualty, and in carrying under-slung load.
The engines are yet to be identified while the helicopter would be equipped with automatic flight control system, latest mission systems, advanced cockpit display, and avionics and other devices.
HAL’s rotary or helicopter stable includes the light combat helicopter, the weaponised ALH Mk-IV or Rudra. It is also developing the light utility helicopter which flew at the show and the light observation helicopter. A large, ₹600-crore helicopter manufacturing complex is coming up at Tumakuru, about 50 km from here.
