SOURCE: RAUNAK KUNDE / NEWS BEAT / IDRW.ORG
Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) said that the country’s largest chopper manufacturing facility in the Tumakuru district of Karnataka is already prepped to make Russian Kamov Ka-226T light helicopters in the country along with LUH (Light Utility Helicopter) with annual production. run with these two types can hit 60 units.
Indian Air Force, Indian Army and Indian Navy want to replace nearly 400 Vintage Cheetah and Chetak light helicopters that were procured in the early 60s due to which it was decided that orders will be spilt between Ka-226T and LUH in equal numbers.
Ka-226T and LUH are in the same class due to which often arguments have been made in the country that all orders for 400 units should go to LUH since it is a locally made helicopter, but Ka-226T is a twin-engine utility helicopter, unlike LUH which is the single-engine which makes former much safer to operate in high altitudes and comes with more power which is often required in high altitude regions.
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