SOURCE: DINESH BEHARA / FOR MY TAKE / IDRW.ORG
In 2017 Indian Navy issued an RFI for 111 Naval Utility Helicopters (NUH) to replace ageing license-built Alouette III /Chetak helicopters. The RFI stipulated that the helicopter should be in the category of 5 tons and should be able to carry out operations such as Search and Rescue (SAR), Medical Evacuation (MEDEVAC), Communication Duties, Anti-Piracy and Anti-terrorism, Humanitarian Assistance, and Disaster Relief (HADR) and Surveillance and Targeting in both day and night. [1]
The Navy was looking for a utility helicopter with limited sub-surface targeting carrying at least one torpedo and capable of undertaking the operations both from ships and shores.[1]
These choppers were supposed to be procured under the strategic partnership model wherein a foreign OEM would partner with an Indian entity similar to the deals like Scorpene submarines (Mazagaon Docks Ltd with Naval group), K-9 Vajra (L&T with Hanwha), M777 Howitzers (Mahindra Defense Systems with BAE) and Airbus C-295 (Tata with Airbus). The aim was to enhance the capabilities of the Indian private sector through the strategic partnership model and ToT being part of it.
HAL with its expertise with Dhruv and its variants over the years entered the fray and the whole process got on the ice. HAL entering the bid was against the SP model as it was designed to strengthen private companies.[2]
In April 2022 the third list of items that are barred from importing was released and it included utility helicopters as well.[3]
In June 2022, HAL completed flight trials of the Dhruv wheeled version for the navy with main rotor folding capability.[4]
There was lot of hiccup between Indian Navy and HAL over the Naval variant of Dhruv helicopter, initial batches of the helicopter had difficulties in time consuming rotor folding. Indian Navy indicated the incompatibility of Dhruv with naval operations. Basically, HAL didn’t design Dhruv keeping Navy in mind, it was mainly conceived for land operations, in such cases when helicopters are subjected to modifications with additional components such as surveillance radar, equipment’s for SAR, emergency floating gears, etc. then they tend to reduce operational parameters like endurance, range and load. [5]
There are less helicopters in the global market matching the Indian Navy’s RFI.Airbus offered to establish AS565 Panther helicopter global production line in India[6]During Emmanuel Bonne (Diplomatic advisor to the French President) visit to India in 2021. Airbus AS565 Panther still a frontrunner for the bid which first flew in 1984 and the latest version AS565 Mbe in 2016.[7]One of the concerns can be that it uses older Mk46 torpedoes, if it can be modified to carry Mk54 torpedoes then, Panther will an edge as Mk54 torpedoes are used in MH-60R Romeo helicopters and Boeing P-8i aircrafts or Panther should be modified to equip indigenous Torpedo Advanced Light Shyena.
AgustaWestland AW159 Wildcat, can be a distant competitor as well for the requirement. Indian Navy has good experience in operating the Westland Sea King Helicopters in ASW roles. Acquired in the 1970s[8], these helicopters are in the last phase of their service.
Westland was originally from the UK but in 2000, it was merged with Agusta of Italy, now fully owned by Italian Leonardo S.p.A. In 2014, The Indian govt had blacklisted Finmeccanica (now Italian Leonardo S.p.A.) for the infamous VVIP chopper scam, but in 2021 it was removed from the blacklist. The ban may have been removed considering the procurement of advanced black shark heavyweight torpedoes for Scorpene class submarines. But as a pseudo effect, it has cleared the deck for the Italian company to participate in future defence deals.[9]
| AgustaWestland AW159 Wildcat[10] | Airbus AS565 Panther[11] | |
| Max. takeoff weight | 6,000 kg | 4,300 kg |
| Engine power | 2 x 1,361 hp | 2 x 852 hp |
| Main Rotor Diameter | 12.8m | 11.94m |
| Max. Speed | 311 km/h | 306 km/h |
| Range | 777 km | 827 km |
| Armament | 20 x Thales Martlet (LMM-Lightweight Multirole Missile)Sting Ray (torpedo)Mk.11 (depth charges) | AS 15TT (anti-ship missiles)Mk46 (torpedo)Mistral (air-to-air) |
| Avionics | Dipping sonar arraySeaspray 7400E AESA radarSonobuoysTactical data link | Dipping sonarSearch/weather radarTerrain awareness and warning system Tactical data link |
Wildcat being more commonly used in dedicated naval roles and the Panther being used in a wider range of missions.
To replace the chetak helicopters which are being obsolete, andto meet the growing challenges arising in Arabian sea and Indian ocean such as piracy or rescuing commercial tankers hit by drone attacks HADR missions, this 111-helicopter requirement is essential.
Ultimately, whether the solution comes from a foreign OEM, HAL, or a local-foreign collaboration is secondary, what truly matters is our drive to make this requirement a reality!
So, what do you think who can hunt for the IndianNavy: Panther or Wildcat or _________?
References
| [1] | Indian Navy, 2017. [Online]. Available: https://www.indiannavy.nic.in/sites/default/files/tender_document/22_AUG_NUH_RFI_OEM_UPLOADED_ON_WEBSITE.pdf. |
| [2] | V. Thapar, “HAL attempts to gatecrash India’s first Strategic Partner programme to acquire naval choppers,” SP’s naval Forces, 24 May 2019. [Online]. Available: https://www.spsnavalforces.com/news/?id=115&h=XXXIII-Coast-Guard-Commanders-Conference. |
| [3] | Ministry of Defence, “Landmark policy decision to indigenise 101 more weapons and platforms to speed up ‘Aatmanirbharta’ in Defence,” 7 April 2022. [Online]. Available: https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1814446#:~:text=The%20third%20list%20comprises%20highly,(Radar%20For%20Ships)%2C%20Medium. |
| [4] | Lt. General P.C. Katoch (Retd), “Maiden Flight of ALH-Dhruv (Wheeled Version),” SP’s naval Forces, 5 July 2022. [Online]. Available: https://www.spsnavalforces.com/experts-speak/?id=521&h=Maiden-Flight-of-ALH-Dhruv-Wheeled-Version. |
| [5] | M. Pubby, “Navy not keen on HAL for choppers, wants private sector to build alternate capability,” The Economic Times, 1 August 2020. [Online]. Available: https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/defence/navy-not-keen-on-hal-for-choppers-wants-private-sector-to-build-alternate-capability/articleshow/77295393.cms?from=mdr. |
| [6] | S. Gupta, “On Rafale and deadly Panther choppers, India gets a huge offer from France,” Hindustan Times, 10 January 2021. [Online]. Available: https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/france-offers-to-shift-panther-chopper-assembly-line-to-india-rafale-too-101610181121676.html. |
| [7] | Airbus, “Airbus Helicopters completes AS565 MBe Panther deliveries to Mexican Navy,” 6 December 2017. [Online]. Available: https://www.airbus.com/en/newsroom/press-releases/2017-12-airbus-helicopters-completes-as565-mbe-panther-deliveries-to. |
| [8] | www.bharat-rakshak.com, [Online]. Available: https://www.bharat-rakshak.com/NAVY/Aviation/Aircraft/112-Westland-Sea-King.html#:~:text=The%20first%20of%20the%20Seakings,of%2012%20Seakings%20were%20operational.. |
| [9] | R. Pandit, “India lifts ban on Italy arms firm linked to Agusta scam,” The Times of India, 2021 November 2021. [Online]. Available: https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/india-lifts-ban-on-italy-arms-firm-linked-to-agusta-scam/articleshow/87561597.cms. |
| [10] | “Wikipedia,” [Online]. Available: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AgustaWestland_AW159_Wildcat. |
| [11] | “Wikipedia,” [Online]. Available: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eurocopter_AS565_Panther. |
| pictures Airbus AS565 Panther File:2021-02 Amsterdam Island – Nivose’s helicopter 01.jpg – Wikimedia Commons AgustaWestland AW159 Wildcat File:AW159 Wildcat equipped with Martlet missiles.jpg – Wikimedia Commons |
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