Ka-226T for India
JSC Rosoboronexport offered Russia’s Kamov Ka-226T multi-purpose helicopterbin a tender to supply 197 reconnaissance and surveillance helicopters for the Indian air force and land forces. Its rival is Eurocopter AS550 C3 Fennec helicopter.
The Russian chopper Ka-226T had undergone all the test phases and the examination of bidders’ proposals was at the final stage, Rosoboronexport press-release said in February 2012. Rosoboronexport, the sole Russian intermediary for exports and imports of weapons and military equipment, has issued a press release confirming that the Russian Ka-226T light helicopter will soon defeat its European counterpart the AS550 C3 Fennec, manufactured by Eurocopter, in the tendering process to supply 197 reconnaissance and surveillance helicopters for the air force and land forces of the Republic of India. “All the test phases have been completed, and the examination of bidders’ proposals is at the concluding stage,” the company’s press office reported.
The marked advantage of the Russian proposal was its “cumulative” effect: the excellent Ka-226T rotary-wing aircraft is offered as a package with an offset program that was attractive for the Indian side, this document says. First, under the offset programme Rosoboronexport, together with companies of the Russian Helicopters holding, is proposing to set up joint production of sub-systems and components for the Ka-226T, and subsequently to set up assembly of these machines in the Republic of India.
Second, it proposed joint development of new modifications of the Ka-226T. And third, this program will enable the two countries – which are strategic partners – to move towards full-scale industrial cooperation in the field of helicopter building. Russia’s huge experience in this sphere and the successful implementation of joint programmes in the field of aircraft building (production under licence in India of the MiG-21, MiG-27 and Su-30MKI aeroplanes) are a good basis for fulfilling the most ambitious objectives.
The Ka-226T performed very well during the evaluation trials conducted earlier in India as part of the tendering process. These trials showed that the Ka-226T embodied the best achievements of the Kamov school of design – modular construction, which makes the helicopter multifunctional, a simple piloting technique, a low level of vibration, a high degree of reliability and safety in flight, and easy maintenance.
The Kamov helicopter may also be helped to win in the Indian tendering process by the fact that the Ka-226T was also flying in the Russian Federal Security Service and the Ministry of Emergency Situations, and has been put into service by the Ministry of Defence.
By May 2015 Russia was expecting formal notification from India on its decision to launch production of light Kamov Ka-226T (NATO reporting name Hoodlum) multirole helicopters. Head of design and manufacturing company Russian Helicopters Alexander Mikheev told reporters he expected 200 aircraft to be manufactured in the initial phase. "We expect a formal notification from the Indian side on its decision to launch this project in the near future," the CEO said.
According to Mikheev, Russia's exports-imports Rosoboronexport agency will carry out the contract, with Russian Helicopters as a partner. On 20 May 2015, Mikheev said at the Aero India 2015 international air show in southeast India's Bengaluru he hoped a joint Russian-Indian venture to manufacture the Ka-226T would emerge based on the experience with Russia-designed Sukhoi Su-30 MKI fighter jets under license in India.
The Ka-226T ‘Kamov’ helicopters could soon be manufactured in India through a joint-venture enterprise owned by Rosoboronexport, Russian Helicopters, and Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), RBTH learned from an Indian military source, who wished to remain anonymous.
“We are talking here about the production of at least 400 helicopters over the next 10 years, including some for export to third countries,” he said. The source declined to specify the cost per manufactured aircraft, saying “this will be determined when the final agreement is reached”.
According to the PTI News Agency, the Indian government’s Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) gave an initial clearance for around 200 helicopters, and state-run HAL is a "front-runner" for partnering with Russia. "HAL is the front-runner as of now. Talks would be held now to finalize the contract and work out the modalities," the military source said.
Sources also said that the Indian Navy's plan to procure over 100 Naval Utility Helicopters is on track and is a separate process for which the Request for Proposal was in the last stage of finalization. The 100 helicopters that would become part of the Indian Navy are under the ‘buy and make’ category of the Defence Procurement Procedure 2013, where the company would buy a foreign design that would be assembled in India by local partners. Companies, including Tata group, Anil Ambani’s group firm Reliance Defence and Aerospace, Axis Aerospace, Bharat Forge, Hindustan Aeronautics (HAL) and Larsen & Tubro, are among those who sent in details about the original equipment manufacturer to the ministry of defence.
Russia’s Rosoboronexport joined hands with India’s Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) to manufacture Ka-226T ‘Kamov’ helicopters. The strategic move, in line with the Make in India campaign, came after defence minister Manohar Parrikar-led Defence Acquisition Council on 13 May 2015 approved the Russian proposal to manufacture 200 Kamov helicopters in India. Other than HAL, which would be the primary partner, a few small and mid-sized Indian entities would also be a part of the helicopter manufacturing program, which would be based on 100% transfer of technology from Moscow.
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