Indian Armed Forces Acquiring Large Numbers Of Helicopters

Indian Armed Forces Acquiring Large Numbers Of Helicopters

(NSI News Source Info) February 9, 2009: Major helicopter acquisitions planned by the Minisry of Defense are challenging Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd. to expand its helicopter production capacity, in preparation of initial deliveries of locally produced helicopters by the year 2015.

The Indian Army and Air Force are panning to acquire 384 Light Utility Helicopters (LUH), of which 187 are expected to be locally built at HAL.

A Dhruv Helicopter of India's Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd. (HAL) (C) lifts off in front of a group of photographers at The HAL helicopter division in Bangalore, 16 August 2007. India has carried out the first flight of a weaponised combat helicopter it is developing to equip its own armed forces as well as potential overseas customers including Turkey. State-run Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL) said the Dhruv, as the advanced light helicopter is known, was a "birthday gift" to the nation that 15 August, celebrated 60 years of independence from British colonial rule.

The helicopter is intended to replace the ageing Chetak and Cheetah (locally built Alouette II and III) helicopters in use by Indian army and air force since the mid 70s. Agusta/Westland, Bell Helicopter of the US, Eurocopter, and the Russian Kamov and Sikorsky are among the companies competing for the LUH program. The Indian aerospace company is expected to conclude talks about foreign participation in both programs during the Aero-India airshow. ‘We have already started preliminary work to design, develop and produce indigenous light utility helicopters (LUH) and medium lift helicopters for the three services,’ said HAL chairman Ashok Baweja. Apart from the 3 ton LUH, the company plans to introduce a new Medium Lift Helicopters, a 10-15 ton class, to fit the requirements of the Indian Navy, for combat, and search and rescue (SAR) missions. The same platform could also be utilized by the Indian Coast Guard, challenged with heightened security concerns in Indian waters. Another helicopter, already operating with the Indian Navy is the Dhruv. This helicopter will soon receive a more powerful engine. HAL is considering the EJ-200 engine. Another derivative of the platform. The prototype of the long delayed Light Combat Helicopter (LCH) is expected to be ready by the second half of 2009.

Agusta Wins Additional AW139 Order From Cyprus / The Ministry of Justice Of Cyprus Orders Two AW139 Helicopters

Agusta Wins Additional AW139 Order From Cyprus / The Ministry of Justice of Cyprus Orders Two AW139 Helicopters (NSI News Source Info) January 9, 2009: AgustaWestland, a Finmeccanica company, is pleased to announce that the Ministry of Justice of Cyprus has placed an order for two AW139 medium twin engine helicopters. These aircraft will be used to perform law enforcement and search and rescue operations.

The AgustaWestland AW139 is a 15-seat medium sized twin-engined helicopter manufactured by AgustaWestland. Originally designed and developed jointly by Agusta and Bell Helicopters and marketed as the Agusta-Bell AB139, Bell withdrew from the project, which was then renamed the AW139. The AgustaWestland AW149 is a medium-lift military helicopter being developed by AgustaWestland as an enlarged version of the AW139.

This success follows on from the contract signed by the Ministry of Defence of Cyprus in December 2008 for three AW139s and is further evidence of the increasing success this model has found in the medium twin market where it continues to be the best selling helicopter.

The 15-seat AW139 is a new generation medium twin-turbine helicopter setting new standards in its class. The AW139 is the only new generation helicopter in its class, in service today, that fully complies with the latest certification requirements in terms of performance and safety. Its Pratt & Whitney turbines together with a state-of-the-art 5-bladed main rotor provide unequalled performance, even in demanding hot and high conditions at maximum all up mass. The availability of modular role kits allows easy and quick conversion to and from various configurations.

The law enforcement-configured AW139 is available with a wide range of mission equipment and with the most spacious cabin in the medium twin class is the helicopter of choice for demanding homeland security requirements.

A large number of customers have ordered or are already operating the AW139 for law enforcement and SAR duties in many countries including Japan, China, The Netherlands, the UK, Italy, Spain, Estonia, Republic of Korea and Malaysia.

Orders for over 430 AW139 helicopters have been placed by more than 100 customers from over 40 countries to carry out a wide range of missions including law enforcement and homeland security duties, EMS/SAR, utility, fire fighting, VIP/corporate transport and offshore transport.