RAPCON From Puerto Rico, joined Jul 2006, 671 posts, RR: 0 Posted (6 years 9 months 1 week 1 day 23 hours ago) and read 7291 times:
What is the mission of the Dhruv in the Indian Armed Forces?
The Dhruv was supposed to replace both type of Alouette's. But Eurocopter's AS 550 Fennec and Bell Textron's 407 are set to compete in their second and final round of summer trials for the Indian Army contract for 197 light helicopters to replace its aging fleet of Chetaks (Alouette II) and Cheetahs (Alouette III).
If an EADS/Bell product is going to replace the Alouettes, the Mi-17 is going to remain the primary hauler, and the IAF is going to maintain its fleet of Mi-25/35 and Mi-26, what does that mean for the HAL Dhruv??
Apart from basic liasion/vip work (and maybe a basic CG type) it seems that the Dhruv is not going to be a major player in the Indian front-line inventory.
MODS CAN'T STOP ME....THEY CAN ONLY HOPE TO CONTAIN ME!!!
Blrsea From India, joined May 2005, 1227 posts, RR: 3 Reply 1, posted (6 years 9 months 1 week 1 day 16 hours ago) and read 7259 times:
Indian forces are looking out for a helicopter in 10 ton class. They have already ordered around 200 dhruvs ( which are in 5 ton class) and will be delivered over 5 years.
...the option is probably that the IAF is going to stick with its familiar fleet of Mil-17's. No need to change when what you have is doing a fine job. Just buy new airframes to replace the old one.
MODS CAN'T STOP ME....THEY CAN ONLY HOPE TO CONTAIN ME!!!
Blrsea From India, joined May 2005, 1227 posts, RR: 3 Reply 5, posted (6 years 9 months 1 week 21 hours ago) and read 7204 times:
Quoting RAPCON (Reply 2): Eurocopter's AS 550 Fennec and Bell Textron's 407 are not 10-ton. They're not even 5-ton.
You are right. These are for replacements of the existing cheetah/chetak ( French aloutte) helicopters. These are lighter class helicopters and India is looking for around 200 of them, of which around 60 will be procured outright and remaining will be assembled/license produced by HAL.
Quote: As for the multi-role 10 ton helicopter, potential partners include Eurocopter, Sikorsky, AgustaWestland, Mil and Kazan. A decision on this partnership was expected in the next few months.
RAPCON From Puerto Rico, joined Jul 2006, 671 posts, RR: 0 Reply 6, posted (6 years 9 months 1 week 18 hours ago) and read 7196 times:
Quoting Blrsea (Reply 5): HAL is also trying to develop a 10 ton class helicopter in collaboration with one other major company like Bell, Eurocopter or Mil.
That's great, but once again: Where does the Dhruv fall in the Indian Army/IAF?
-The new light helo take over the Alouettes.
-The Mi35 is out in the FEBA duking it out.
-The Mil-17 will be hauling for a long time.
-The Mi-26 is doing heavy lift and is coming due for a replacement.
What is the Dhruv doing? It's kinda of an expensive toy just to have around for training and hauling brass around to dinner!
MODS CAN'T STOP ME....THEY CAN ONLY HOPE TO CONTAIN ME!!!
DEVILFISH From Philippines, joined Jan 2006, 4426 posts, RR: 1 Reply 8, posted (6 years 7 months 5 days 21 hours ago) and read 6685 times:
Quoting RAPCON (Reply 4): ...the option is probably that the IAF is going to stick with its familiar fleet of Mil-17's. No need to change when what you have is doing a fine job. Just buy new airframes to replace the old one.
Quoting Blrsea (Reply 5): Mil and Kazan. A decision on this partnership was expected in the next few months.
Flightglobal reports that the IAF has just officially signed a US$660M deal with Kazan for 80 Mi-17-1Vs.....
DEVILFISH From Philippines, joined Jan 2006, 4426 posts, RR: 1 Reply 9, posted (6 years 7 months 5 days 21 hours ago) and read 6685 times:
Quoting RAPCON (Reply 4): ...the option is probably that the IAF is going to stick with its familiar fleet of Mil-17's. No need to change when what you have is doing a fine job. Just buy new airframes to replace the old one.
Quoting Blrsea (Reply 5): Mil and Kazan. A decision on this partnership was expected in the next few months.
Flightglobal reports that the IAF has just officially signed a US$660M deal with Kazan for 80 Mi-17-1Vs.....
RAPCON From Puerto Rico, joined Jul 2006, 671 posts, RR: 0 Reply 10, posted (6 years 7 months 1 day 19 hours ago) and read 6611 times:
Quoting DEVILFISH (Reply 9): If this is any indication, the fighter contest could likely go the Russkies' way too.
Nah, I don't see it. The IAF already had a growing fleet of Mi-17's. They just finally decided to top off the rest of the units that were flying the old Mi-8. It just makes sense from all aspects to continue with that you know.
MODS CAN'T STOP ME....THEY CAN ONLY HOPE TO CONTAIN ME!!!
RAPCON From Puerto Rico, joined Jul 2006, 671 posts, RR: 0 Reply 12, posted (6 years 6 months 4 weeks 1 day 14 hours ago) and read 6559 times:
Quoting Alessandro (Reply 11): Strange that the IAF don´t look into the option of the Mil-18, foldable landinggear and longer fuselage could stretch the use of it.
Retractable gear creates an unecessary weight increase that is not nullified by an increase in performance. Keep it simple and stick with the fixed gear.
MODS CAN'T STOP ME....THEY CAN ONLY HOPE TO CONTAIN ME!!!
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