Indian Helicopters Thread (Dhruv, LCH, etc)

[helmutkohl]

I noticed there's no thread on the Dhruv.. but rather than make one for just for the Dhruv, I'll make one for all of India's helicopter projects (Not that many)

some news about Philippines potentially buying the Dhruv

India closes in on chopper export to the Philippines

Manila is evaluating a maritime variant of the Dhruv ALH, which HAL has developed in Bengaluru on request from the Indian Navy and Coast Guard

www.business-standard.com

I've recalled Ecuador (or was it Colombia) that had major issues with them in terms of supplies and accidents and withdrew them just a few years after purchase.
have other customers had issues?

in other news LCH delivered to IAF a few weeks ago

https://hal-india.co.in/Boost%20to%20Make-in-India,%20PM%20Hands%20Over%20HAL%20Made%20LCH%20to%20IAF/ND__359

 

[RavenOne]

First time i saw Dhruv was Paris Air Show 2003 at the israeli Chalet as IAI or Elbit were kitting it out so here are my photos

Cheers

 

[RavenOne]

Then onto Farnborough Airshow 2008 my pic below

cheers

 

[RavenOne]

I did see the Indian AF Sarang display team back at Farnborough 2008 and last month when I attended Dubai Air Show 2021 I saw them perform again

Cheers

 

[yasotay]

As always, thanks for sharing your superb photographs.

 

[helmutkohl]

potentially bad news for Kamov and good news for HAL's domestic helicopters.

the article made some comment about co-axial rotors being more costly to maintain, but I wonder how much more? especially considering the removal of the tail rotor

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www.bnnbloomberg.ca

 

[TR1]

Aside from lift, the Co-ax allows for a much better egress/entry from the back of the helo.

Smells like domestic lobbying when the foreign option is actually better suited.
Although the article makes it sound like they will still buy the helos directly from Russia (Ulan-Ude), but are reconisidering in India production, which in any case would take years and years to set up if the past is anything to go by.

 

[bakofbakchods]

Looks like the Indian air force will buy more ALH Rudra MK-IV helicopters. Indian Navy will also purchase 60 upgraded and modified HAL ALH to fullfill it's Naval Utility Helicopter needs. the MOD has outright rejected the import love affairs of generals, and the current Russia conflict is also pushing the end result to the same direction.

Navy to get variants of indigenous helicopters

HAL is preparing a detailed project report on the configuration and overall cost, according to defence sources

www.thehindu.com

HAL with their new production base in Tumkur can produce around 90 helicopters a year, although the breakdown of the types havent been given.

HAL's new Tumakuru plant to have key role in building Light Utility Helicopter

Plants at Bengaluru, Tumakuru will be able to collectively build 100 LUHs every year

www.theweek.in

 

[bakofbakchods]

HAL Indian Multi Role Helicopter (IMRH)

This is a 13-ton helicopter to replace Mi-17s of the IAF and IA. The current plain is for the first prototype to be produced in 2025-26 and enter mass production in 2028. Still someway to go

MTOW: 13000 kg.
Max Cruise Speed: 260 kmph@ ISA+15degC
Range: 800km
Endurance: 3 Hrs
Service Ceiling: 6500 m
Payload capability: 4000 kg@SL, 1500 kg @ 4km
Capacity: 2 Crew + 24/36 (Normal/High density) passengers, 2 Crew + 8/12

Fanboy render:

https://twitter.com/x/status/1509155372279422988

View: https://mobile.twitter.com/GODOFPARADOXES/status/1509155372279422988

https://twitter.com/x/status/1357864113754488835

View: https://mobile.twitter.com/strategic_front/status/1357864113754488835

 

[yasotay]

I wish them good luck. Given their bureaucratic government is even worse than that of the United States, I expect to see this helicopter in 2050.

 

[bakofbakchods]

Light Combat Helicopter (LCH)

First LCH in army camo. Army has been taking their own sweet time to place orders, and even reduce their proposed orders to just 7 squadrons from the planned 10+.

 

[bakofbakchods]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1542452619507126272

View: https://twitter.com/livefist/status/1542452619507126272

 

[TomcatViP]

The segmented blade, with a lifting section close to the hub being cut away, improves the in ground effect hover stability. Something that might have been tested in the tethered tests mentioned in the accompanying text that comes with this tweet.

The downside is that the total lift from the rotor is slightly reduced, hence a reduced maximum hover altitude is to be expected as a maximum takeoff weight.

 

[RavenOne]

Design finalised this week at Aero india

HAL finalises 13t helicopter design to replace Mi-17s

Hindustan Aeronautics (HAL) is moving ahead with its Indian Multi-Role Helicopter (IMRH) programme.

www.flightglobal.com

and it will be powered by Safran

https://www.safran-group.com/pressroom/hal-and-safran-move-forward-partnership-imrh-helicopter-engine-2023-02-15

cheers

 

[aonestudio]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1782092992129778124

View: https://x.com/hvtiaf_bharat/status/1782092992129778124