[🇮🇳] INDIAN ARMED FORCES NEWS AND DISCUSSION

[Krishna with Flute]

Date of Event: Feb 7, 2025 Source : https://www.PKDefense.com

Army’s modernisation plan picks pace​

1h • 3 min read

NEW DELHI: As part of modernising Indian Army’s operational capabilities, a significant accretion is on the anvil on the aviation front, specifically the rotors, with the Army working toward inducting around 250 helicopters for surveillance and reconnaissance operations.

A source said, “The Army has outlined the need to replace its ageing helicopter fleet. Several options are being considered, emphasising indigenous production under the government’s Make in India policy.”

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Key contenders, sources informed, include HAL’s Light Utility Helicopter, Kamov-226T (Russia), and Airbus H125. “The Army is also evaluating opportunities for private Indian companies to enter the helicopter manufacturing space, encouraging competition, innovation, and cost-effectiveness,” sources added.

The selection process is driven by performance benchmarks, ensuring that the replacement fleet is capable of extended endurance missions, enhanced troop transport, improved combat survivability, and superior sensor integration for reconnaissance and surveillance roles.

Officials said that as Aero India 2025 approaches, military aviation landscape is set to take centre stage and a modern helicopter fleet is a key focus area.

The Indian Army Aviation Corps, though one of the youngest branches of the Army, has emerged as a critical force multiplier in modern warfare, providing aerial support for combat operations, reconnaissance, logistics, casualty evacuation, and humanitarian assistance. However, as global military aviation advances and battlefield requirements evolve, a next-generation helicopter fleet has become imperative.

Army’s modernisation plan picks pace
Helicopters are an operational necessity, considering that the Indian Army operates in some of the world’s most extreme environments. In the northern and western theatres, helicopters facilitate rapid troop movement, reconnaissance, and combat support.

The high-altitude terrain of Ladakh, Siachen Glacier, North Sikkim, and Arunachal Pradesh presents significant operational challenges with sub-zero temperatures, unpredictable weather and thin air conditions that demand highly capable rotary-wing platforms. In counter-terrorism and counter-insurgency operations, particularly in Jammu and Kashmir and the Northeast, helicopters enable quick insertion and extraction of troops, surveillance missions, and casualty evacuations.

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Beyond combat, the Army helicopters are pivotal in humanitarian assistance and disaster relief operations, responding to natural calamities such as floods, earthquakes, and landslides. Rapid airlift capabilities are crucial for rescuing stranded civilians, delivering supplies, and providing medical evacuation in these scenarios. The Army’s rotary-wing fleet is also vital in desert warfare.

For decades, the Chetak and Cheetah helicopters have been the backbone of the Army Aviation Corps. While these platforms have proven their reliability and endurance, they are now technologically outdated. Initially developed in the 1960s and inducted in the 1970s, these helicopters lack modern avionics, safety features, and the operational flexibility required for contemporary warfare.

Their single-engine configuration increases risk, and their limited payload capacity restricts their ability to transport troops and equipment efficiently. Maintenance challenges have also emerged, with the declining availability of spare parts.



Recognising these challenges, the Indian Army has initiated a comprehensive plan to upgrade its helicopter fleet. Modernisation aims to enhance operational capabilities in altitude performance, endurance, payload capacity, survivability, and mission versatility.

In July 2023, the defence ministry issued a Request for Information to lease 20 reconnaissance and surveillance helicopters with ground support equipment for five years.

Currently, India’s Army Aviation Corps comprises three brigades at Leh, Missamari and Jodhpur, equipped with around 190 Cheetah, Chetak and Cheetal helicopters, 145 ALH, and 75 Rudra (ALH-WSI), which is the weaponised version. While the indigenous light combat helicopters are under induction, orders have been placed for 25 ALH Mk-III.

CHOPPERS IN THE CART

Among the key aircraft considered in place of Army’s ageing fleet are


Light Utility Helicopter (LUH)

A domestically developed platform, currently undergoing phased induction. Designed for high-altitude performance, it is expected to replace the Cheetah and Chetak helicopters in forward areas

Kamov-226T (Russia)

A proven reconnaissance helicopter with a modular design and twin-engine safety. While initially part of an Indo-Russian joint production plan, procurement has faced delays, partly due to geopolitical considerations

Airbus H125

A high-altitude capable helicopter with global recognition, offering advanced avionics and superior payload capacity

Private Sector participation

A significant step as helicopters are a crucial step in strengthening operational capabilities across diverse and challenging terrains. Private Indian companies entering helicopter manufacturing space is expected to encourage competition, innovation and cost-effectiveness

 

[Saif]

India to seek global bids this year for 114 fighters

India is likely to seek bids this year for 114 multi-role fighters, two sources said, marking a major step in a process to bolster the country's stock of combat aircraft that has gone on for nearly two decades. The project is critical for the Indian Air Force, whose squadrons of mainly Russian and

thefinancialexpress.com.bd

India to seek global bids this year for 114 fighters
REUTERS
Published :
Feb 14, 2025 19:35
Updated :
Feb 14, 2025 19:35

India is likely to seek bids this year for 114 multi-role fighters, two sources said, marking a major step in a process to bolster the country's stock of combat aircraft that has gone on for nearly two decades.

The project is critical for the Indian Air Force, whose squadrons of mainly Russian and ex-Soviet aircraft have fallen to 31 from an approved strength of 42 at a time when rival China is expanding its air force rapidly.

On the sidelines of the Aero India aerospace exhibition in Bengaluru, many of the companies who expressed interest in 2018 - when the government last sought planemakers for the project - said they were still in the hunt.

"The Chinese are inducting modern fighters and Pakistanis are also getting some Chinese support whereas the Indian Air Force, in terms of combat squadrons, is deficient. There is no doubt about it," said Laxman Behera, a defence expert at government-funded Jawaharlal Nehru University in New Delhi.

"We'll have to wait and watch."

Potential competitors for the Multi-Role Fighter Aircraft (MRFA) contract include US defence firms Lockheed Martin and Boeing, Russia's United Aircraft Corporation (UAC), France's Dassault Aviation, Sweden's Saab AB, and Germany's Eurofighter.

Companies are preparing supply chain blueprints, scouting for local partners, and ensuring cost effectiveness of their offerings, two executives and three sources told Reuters this week at the exhibition.

Lockheed Martin is trying to sell its F-21, an India-specific variant of its widely used F-16 fighter, to New Delhi for the MRFA, which will be a 4.5 generation aircraft made in India with a local partner.

Separately on Thursday, President Donald Trump said the US would eventually sell the country fifth generation F-35 stealth fighters, although India's foreign secretary said afterwards that no formal process had started yet.

"We are encouraged by the recent announcement by President Trump to provide the F-35 to India. However, these are government-to-government decisions. We look forward to working closely with both governments on upcoming strategic procurements," a Lockheed Martin spokesperson said.

RUSSIAN SUPPLIES

Lockheed builds F-16 wings at the company's joint production facility with India's Tata Group in the southern city of Hyderabad and has plans to use the facility for F-21 jets.

The IAF does not have US fighter jets in its active fleet, but about 50 aircraft are powered by General Electric engines, with 170 more on order.

UAC may have advanced jets on offer, including the stealthy Sukhoi Su-57, a Russian industry source said.

The Su-57 is a generation ahead of the Su-35 and the MiG-35 that were previously on offer for the MRFA and has a more powerful engine, avionics, and radar systems.

Russia has for decades been the main weapons supplier to India, the world's biggest arms importer. But New Delhi has been diversifying its imports since the war in Ukraine hobbled Moscow's ability to supply spares to India.

Russia brought the Su-57 to Aero India and offered to make the aircraft in India in "informal" conversations with Indian defence officials, saying it could by built using local production lines for Su-30s.

More than 10 years ago, Russia and India had planned to build the Su-57, then called the T-50, in India, but the effort was abandoned.

Sweden's Saab, which also intends to compete for the MRFA project with its JAS-39 Gripen E jet, has a blueprint for an Indian supply chain, said Kent-Åke Molin, head of the Gripen India campaign.

Molin said he was speaking to potential partners for the project and that Indian officials had given a "very positive" reception to the aircraft, adding that the jet was more cost-efficient than its peers.

The MRFA project is a continuation of an uncompleted acquisition of 126 jets that started in 2007 but was withdrawn in 2015 after Modi's government decided to buy 36 Rafale fighter jets from Dassault Aviation. The Rafale is also a potential competitor in the MRFA project.

Dassault did not immediately respond to a request for comment.​