India’s Light Helicopter Contract Hits Turbulence, Rises
Nov 29, 2011 10:28 EST
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HAL’s take grows; Final trials; AW’s elimination. (Nov 23/11)
How safe are the Indian Army’s aging fleets of Chetaks (Aerospatiale SA316 Alouette III) and Cheetahs (SE316B Alouette II)? These old designs have consistently proven themselves in high altitude operations, and remain useful as long as their airframes remain safe. The problem is that at their age, the safety margin is pretty slim.
In 2003, India issued an RFP for 197 light helicopters estimating a deal worth between $500-$600 million to buy 60 helicopters outright, with the remaining 137 being built under license by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL). Eurocopter’s AS550 C3 Fennec and Bell Textron’s 407 competed in the second and final round of summer trials, and as 2007 ticked toward a close, it looked like we had a winner. As often happens in India, however, the process ended up completely derailed. There’s a new RFP out for a successor “Reconnaissance and Surveillance Helicopter program” (RSH) – but inside lobbying from HAL has backed India off of its initial goal of 312 foreign helicopters, and the competitors have changed.
The Contenders
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India’s Army Aviation Corps currently operates 11 squadrons of Chetaks/Cheetahs, each containing 5 flights of 5 helicopters each. Another 5 independent flights of 25 round out the force, for a total of 300 machines. The AAC needs replacements, and wants new helicopters with better performance and support characteristics. These new machines will perform a variety of armed light utility tasks, including ferrying loads of up to 75 kg to troops based at 23,000 feet above sea level in Kashmir, the Siachen Glacier, etc. Operation at these altitudes has traditionally been very challenging for helicopters, owing to reduced rotor lift in the thinning air.
Under the v2.0 Reconnaissance and Surveillance Helicopter (RSH) competition, India upped its planned buy from HAL to 187 locally-designed LUH single-engine helicopters, accompanied by 197 LUH helicopters of a foreign design.
The first contender is Eurocopter. HAL and Eurocopter predecessor Aerospatiale have a long-standing relationship, and past Indian Army helicopters have generally been modified Aerospatiale designs. The Eurocopter AS550 C3 Fennec won the Army’s v1.0 competition, and price negotiations were underway when irregularities canceled the deal.
EADS subsidiary Eurocopter have entered into a Global Industrial Cooperation Partnership Agreement with Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) for the joint production of the civilian/military Ecureuil and Fennec family of helicopters for the world market. That agreement, signed at the ongoing “Aero-India 2005” international air show, would make HAL a supplier of composite and metallic structural assemblies for the Ecureuil and Fennec families, including the airframe for the 2 helicopters, for the world market.
Russia’s Kamov had responded to the AAC’s v1.0 Request For Proposal back in late 2003, alongside Bell and Eurocopter. Its Ka-226 was eliminated early during the paper evaluation however, because it had been unable to obtain flight certification in time. Kamov asked to be re-inserted in the first evaluation in 2005, but this did not happen. The Ka-226 now has its civil certification, and the formal re-tender led Kamov to bid again.
The helicopter uses the same counter-rotating design as Kamov’s other helicopters, which serve in roles with the Indian Navy. The Ka-226 also has a somewhat unusual feature – it can become a skycrane by detaching its body pod. Other mission pods can also be fitted for specialty roles, which gives the helicopter considerable versatility.
The Ka-226 is reported to be significantly cheaper than its rivals. On the flip side, it has few customers at this point, even as problems with other Russian equipment and policies are creating pressure to diversify India’s supplier base away from Russia. Nevertheless, it was a finalist alongside the A550 Fennec.
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AgustaWestland had been a bidder in previous rounds, and has apparently bid in the v2.0 RFP as well. Its submission is not a matter of public record, but the AW119 Koala Enhanced has good high-altitude capabilities, and turned out to be their platform. The uprated AW109 Power has a listed ceiling of just over 19,000 feet, which is more than enough for most customers but may not have been enough for India. Hence their choice of the AW119.
The firm’s civil sales have been rising in India, but it was not a finalist in the 1st round of competition. They were hoping for better luck in round 2, but found themselves bounced from the competition on a somewhat mystifying technicality.
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The final wild card is India’s own HAL Dhruv light helicopter, which reportedly performed well in high altitude tests, but has received consistent complaints about its performance in the field. Orders for 166 helicopters are already underway, and the light helicopter competition’s delays have given the design time to mature and prove itself, if it can.
Eurocopter’s global industrial agreement with HAL would have made an outright competitive bid awkward, but HAL certainly wasn’t shy about using its state owned status and political clout to take 115 helicopters out of the joint Air Force/ Army order, in return for promises of their delivery from HAL within 5-6 years. That eventually escalated to 187 machines, for delivery within about 12 years.
India’s new “Light Observation Helicopters” (now also called LUH) will reportedly be smaller 3-ton machines with a single Shakti engine, instead of the Dhruv’s twin engines. Expected speed is up to 120 knots, with a service ceiling of 21,300 feet, and the ability carry a 900-pound payload about 190 nautical miles. Mockups of HAL’s LUH were unveiled at Aero India 2011 in February, and it is expected that the first 3 will fly in 2013. Mass production is scheduled to begin in 2015 at 10 per year, building to 36 per year. All of the 187 HAL LUHs are expected by 2022.
Given the Dhruv’s history, and the number of major defense projects and opportunities pulling at HAL, the question now becomes production capacity, focus, and performance.
Did Not Bid in Round 2
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Bell Textron was offering to make India the global hub to produce the Bell 407, a very successful commercial and utility helicopter whose non-military status ensures that it would not be subject to US sanctions like those imposed after India’s 1998 nuclear tests. A modified version of the Bell 407 was offered to the U.S. Army for the Armed Reconnaissance Helicopter (ARH) contract, and subsequently won, but a combination of US Army requirements changes and increased contractor costs eventually led to the ARH-70’s cancellation. At present, the Iraqi Air Force is the only confirmed customer for the armed 407.
Bell has entered into an agreement with HAL to manufacture tail rotor blades and other flight critical components for the popular Bell 206 Jet Ranger model, and deliveries were expected by the year-end 2005. These moves were meant to assuage India’s fears regarding U.S. sanctions, which grounded India’s Sea King helicopter fleet.
In November 2008, however, Bell pulled out of the Indian competition, citing inability to comply with a 50% industrial offset requirement.
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Some reports also claimed that MD Helicopters’ MD500/900 series were entered in the v2.0 Indian competition, but subsequent reports indicate that they did not bid.
If they had, it would have added a new contender into the mix. The platform’s patented NOTAR (NO TAil Rotor) system might have offered India a very tempting technology transfer option, even as a joint arrangement with India could help complete the resurgence of this American helicopter firm. NOTAR offers quietness and survivability benefits, both of which are very important in combat situations. NOTAR reportedly exacts a slight performance penalty, however, and MD Helicopters’ ability to meet the hot weather, high altitude performance criteria India has set was already the key question. Their MD530F is specifically designed for those situations, and sports a conventional tail rotor. It was eventually ordered by Afghanistan. The MD600N offers a single-engine, NOTAR option with a stated ceiling of 20,000 feet at full load.
Milestones & Developments:
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Nov 23/11: In response to Parliamentary questions, Defence Minister Antony offers this reply:
“There is a proposal for procurement of 187 Light Utility Helicopter (LUH) under design and development project undertaken by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL). The project was sanctioned by Government of India in February 2009. The project is proceeding as per approved time lines.”
He’s referring to HAL’s single-engine LUH design, derived from its experience with the Dhruv.
May 1-23/11: HAL’s Dhruv continues to exert a gravitational pull on this RSH competition, but results are mixed at best.
One the one hand, the helicopter will be getting the HELINA derivative of India’s Nag anti-armor missile, which has been over 20 years in development. HELINA is inferior to off-the-shelf options elsewhere, but does fit India’s self-sufficiency model, and could be seen as bolstering HAL’s bid to fill the armed light helicopter role.
On the other hand, India’s Border Security Force wants to send its 8 Dhruvs back. Representatives went on record to call them “useless,” and criticized them for altitude limitations and frequent breakdowns. These performance issues are not new, so the RSH light helicopter competition may be rising in importance to India. DNA India re: HELINA | Indian Express re: BSF.
Feb 20/11: Indian Defence reports that finalist trials of the Russian Ka-226 vs. Eurocopter’s AS550 C3 Fennec have ended. 197 foreign helicopters and 187 LUHs will be procured in order to fulfill RSH requirements. A HAL LUH mock-up, and draft performance specifications, were unveiled at the Aero India 2011 show.
Feb 18/10: At DefExpo 2010 in New Delhi, AgustaWestland announces a joint venture with India’s Tata Sons to build a final AW119 assembly line in India for the worldwide market, with an expected production rate of 30 a year and the first locally-built aircraft potentially rolling out in 2011. AgustaWestland | Defense News.
Sept 25/10: Reports surface that AugustaWestand has not been invited for the LUH Phase II final trials, which are currently going on with Eurocopter and Kamov. AgustaWestland and their engine manufacturer Pratt & Whitney and has written the MoD to question its elimination. Defenseworld.net:
“AgustaWestand had received a communication from the Indian MoD in April this year to the effect that there was a variance in the equipment offered (engine) in the technical proposal to that fielded in the trails and to the equipment which would be in the final production standard, AgustaWestland sources [said that].... the issue focused on the fact that the offered engine had not finished the certification process and not deemed current production standard. However, all vendors… are in the same position…. The sources further asserted that the AgustaWestland AW119SP helicopter offered in the Indian competition meets all the RFP technical and mission requirements.”
Feb 17/10: At DefExpo 2010 in New Delhi, Rosoboronexport’s deputy director general Victor Komardin confirms that they have brought 3 Ka-226 helicopters to India for high altitude trials. DNA India.
Feb 12/10: Eurocopter confirms that its AS550 C3 is undergoing trials for the Reconnaissance and Surveillance Helicopters program, and brings the machine to DefExpo 2010 in New Delhi. The firm will also be showcasing mock-up models of the EC 725 Cougar offered for India’s Multi-role Helicopter requirement, and the AS565 MB Panther offered for India’s Indian Coast Guard.
Dec 7/09: Responding to Parliamentary questions, defense minister Antony confirms the bidders for India’s v2.0 contract:
“The Request for Proposal for replacing the Cheetah helicopters was issued in July 2008 to six vendors. Three vendors, namely, (i) M/s Agusta Westland, Italy (ii) M/s Eurocopter, France and (iii) M/s Rosoboronexport, Russia, have responded. Further action as per the existing procedures including Defence Procurement Procedure, 2008 is underway. “
Nov 30/09: As the light helicopter competition stalls, HAL is the biggest beneficiary. If the foreign competition stalls for long enough, while their own helicopters enter service, the odds of an all-HAL solution increase. Minister of State for Defence Shri MM Pallam Raju offers a snapshot in a response to India’s Parliament:
“Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) has designed & developed the Advance Light Helicopter (ALH Dhruv) in 5.5 ton category to suit the requirement of our Armed Forces. The Light combat Helicopter (LCH) and Light Utility Helicopter (LUH) are both at the development stage. HAL has so far delivered 22 ALHs to Indian Air Force (IAF) and 40 to Army. Contracts for supply of 159 ALHs to Army and IAF were signed in December 2007. These Helicopters are planned to be delivered during 2009-2016.
Around Rs. 6273 crores (INR 62.73 billion, or about $1.35 billion) have been collected by HAL from Army and IAF against delivery of Helicopters, milestone payments for the Helicopters contracted and Design & Development of LCH, LUH & weaponization of ALH.”
Nov 2/09: India’s Times Now reports that delays in planned trials of the 3 submitted helicopters is likely to push the contract award toward the end of 2010 or early 2011, with induction in 2013-2014 only if everything goes smoothly.
The cancellation of the v1.0 RFP has already pushed the deal back by about 4 years. Times Now reports that 3 (Eurocopter, Agusta Westland, and Mil) manufacturers responded to the v2.0 RFP in December 2008. The Indian Defence Ministry’s Technical Evaluation Committee completed its evaluations by April-May 2009, and summer trials were planned by June or July 2009. They have not been held, and Army sources added that the lack of any decision regarding the schedule makes winter trials unlikely by Feb 15/10. That’s likely to force summer trials back to April-May 2010, and winter trials would still be required.
Nov 26/08: Flight International reports that Hindustan Aeronautics is likely seek a Western partner for its indigenous LUH design, with industry sources saying Eurocopter is the favorite to be invited to come on board in 2009.
HAL’s had ortiginally wanted to go it alone for its LUH order, which was placed in addition to the 197 LUHs that India plans to buy on the international market. Given the performance requirements, set timelines, and penalties for delay, however (see Sept 8/08 entry), HAL has evidently decided that partnership is a less risky and less costly way to fill in needed skills and technologies.
Nov 13/08: Indian media report that Bell Helicopter has now withdrawn from India’s LUH helicopter competition, as well as its attack helicopter competition. Flight International quotes a Bell Helicopters India Incorporated official:
“We have a very good product in the 407, but it was simply not feasible to take part given the high offset requirements. We will continue to look for opportunities in the Indian military market. The focus for now, however, is on the civil helicopter sector.”
The RFP required the winner to invest 50% of the deal’s value as industrial offsets to India, an amount that is higher than India’s usual 30% requirement for large foreign military purchases. Bell Helicopter was contacted for comment, but did not get back to DID by press time. India Defence | DNA India | Flight International | India’s Economic times re: 407’s civil success in India.
Sept 8/08: In “The great helicopter challenge,” India’s Business Standard confirms that HAL is designing a new helicopter for the LOH contract: a 3-ton helicopter powered by a single Shakti engine, as opposed to the dual-Shakti Dhruv. The catch is that HAL must have 187 helicopters built, tested, accepted and delivered by 2017:
“Business Standard has learned that the MoD has imposed a strict timeline on HAL, including – for the first time ever – a penalty for delay. Top HAL sources say that if HAL overshoots the 2017 deadline, the MoD will procure more helicopters from the global manufacturer selected to supply LOHs; HAL’s order will correspondingly reduce.”
In order to meet that deadline, the report also indicates that HAL will not be bound to India’s traditional, problem-plagued approach of insisting that every single component is indigenous. Instead, HAL will buy some sub-systems like cockpit design, fuel pump systems, etc. on the international market, and act as the overall integrator.
July 24/08: India invites v2.0 bids for 197 utility helicopters: 133 for the army and 64 for the air force. The foreign helicopters are expected to be inducted by 2010, in a deal that has been valued at INR 30 billion (about $750 million). The usual technology transfer requirements would only require enough transfer for state-owned Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) to perform full maintenance.
Between them, the 2 services require 312 helicopters. The size of the tender was reportedly reduced after inside lobbying from state-owned HAL, however, which assured the Indian MoD that it would be in a position to supply the remaining 115 machines over the next 5-6 years. Some statements hint that this would be a new platform, but given the HAL Dhruv’s fine performance at altitude, some variant of this indigenous helicopter seems more likely. Indo-Asian News Service | ANI | Howrah News Service | domain-B | Aviation Week.
April 9/08: Press reports indicate that India plans to float a larger tender for 312 high altitude light utility helicopters, after it is cleared by the Defence Acquisition Council meeting on April 10/08. The planned tender involves 197 helicopters for army aviation, per the previous tender, but adds another 115 for the air force.
Estimates place the tender’s value at “over $2 billion dollars.” America’s ARH-70 and UH-145/LUH buys of light off-the-shelf helicopters both had program totals of over $3 billion, for similar helicopter numbers.
Bidders for this round are expected to include the same set of firms as the last tender: Bell Helicopter (Bell 407, selected for ARH-70), EADS Eurocopter (AS550 Fennec, won the canceled competition round), Russia’s Kamov (Ka-226) and Italy’s Agusta Westland (likely AW119 Ke).
Reports add that India’s army and IAF have also concluded a major deal with Hindustan Aeronautics for Dhruv 166 Advanced Light Helicopters (ALH), to be inducted in phases by 2011. Could HAL look to grow that number with a bid of its own? Hindustan Times | Punjab News | Times of India.
Dec 17/07: India Defence reports that Indian defence ministry officials, who asked not to be identified, said EADS was “challenging the very grounds of the cancellation of the deal.” They said a visiting delegation of French military officials would also be discussing the issue with Indian counterparts.
These sorts of protests are much like disputes over a referee/umpire’s call in professional sports. They may offer some satisfaction, and they definitely indicate one’s displeasure, but even when they’re right, they almost never change the ruling.
December 2007: The competition goes back to square one as India cancels the RFP, and plans to issue a new tender.
The key issue is that special consideration was apparently shown to Eurocopter, who was allowed to field the AS350 B3 Ecureil civilian variant for the trials instead of the AS550 C3 Fennec military version. Meanwhile, there are reports that a probe is underway regarding an army general on the evaluation committee whose brother reportedly heads up Eurocopter’s sole distributor in India. This has triggered denials of wrongdoing from EADS Eurocopter:
“EADS and Eurocopter are keen on insisting that both companies fully comply with the very strict French and European regulations on these issues….” A company statement also insisted it was in full compliance with European regulations re: bribery, and had also “duly abided by and signed the pre-integrity pact that was requested by the Indian ministry of defence” before making its bid. At a subsequent press conference later in the month, Norbert Ducrot, Eurocopter’s SVP for sales and customer relations in the Asia-Pacific region said there was no difference between the Fennec’s military and civilian versions:
“As far as performance is concerned and technically the two helicopters are the same. It is just a question of the nomenclatures… The request for proposal did not ask for the military version to be fielded for trials in India.”
Even a re-compete of the RFP may not help Bell Helicopter much, however, unless it can meet India’s requirements. India Defence reports that the Bell 407 was eliminated after the machine it sent for evaluation could not perform a 3-axis vector, which enables the helicopter perform a ‘U’ like maneuver that can be very helpful in mountainous areas like the Siachen Glacier. Bell offered to show a video of the helicopter performing a similar maneuver, or fly Indian officials to Canada to witness it, but this was rejected for lack of compliance with India’s testing requirements.
Thanks to all of our readers who have offered us heads-ups and links to various sources: India Defence | India Times | BBC | Breitbart | Forbes.
Oct 7/07: The Press Trust of India reports (via Outlook India) that India has decided to buy 197 EADS’ AS550 Fennec helicopters. The Indian Navy, who also operates the Chetak helicopter, has reportedly expressed interest as well. EADS Senior Vice President for South Asia, Allain Letanoux, said that:
“We are in final phase of having a deal to supply 197 (Fennec) light helicopters for the Indian Army. The contract is expected to be signed by the end of the year… [and will involve transfer of technology].
PTI adds that 67 helicopters manufactured in France will be purchased outright, while the rest will be built jointly with the Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) under their partnership.
Aug 29/07: India’s MoD, in a typically cryptic reply that appears to say no decision has been reached yet:
“The purchase of light helicopter for the army is being processed under the Defence Procurement Procedure and an appropriate decision would be taken after following all the stages of procurement process. As such, no definite time limit could be given at this stage. The exact value of the procurement would be known only thereafter.”
Meanwhile, India’s indigenous Dhruv “advanced light helicopter” debuts an armed version, adds uprated “Shakti” engines developed with Turbomeca of France, and is deployed to the Siachen Glacier high in the mountains of Kashmir after successful tests.
Feb 27/06: EADS release: “Eurocopter is displaying its record-breaking AS350 B3 Ecureuil/AStar at this year’s HeliExpo. On February 14th, 2006, the Federation Aeronautique Internationale (FAI) validated and confirmed the high-altitude world record achieved with a civilian AS350 B3 on May 14 and 15, 2005, with two landings and take-offs on top of Mount Everest at 8,850 meters (29,035 ft.) altitude. Piloted by Eurocopter Experimental Test Pilot Didier Delsalle, the two flights included peak-over landings on the mountain’s peak both exceeding two minutes as stipulated by the FAI regulations.”
Everest News has a page covering the landing, including pictures and video.
July 29/05: The Bell 407 won the US competition, and according to a September 2006 India Defence article, is about to win the Indian Army competition as well. Ths prediction proves premature.
Additional Readings & Sources
- Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd. – Helicopter Division Bangalore. Includes Dhruv, plus Chetak/ Cheetah/ Lancer.
- AgustaWestland – AW119 Ke
- Aerospace Technology – AgustaWestland A119 Koala Single-Turbine Light Helicopter, Italy
- AgustaWestland – AW109 Power
- Aerospace Technology – AgustaWestland A109 Power Light Multi-Role Helicopter, Italy
- Bell Helicopter – 407 Utility
- Aerospace Technology – Bell 407 Seven-Seat Light Helicopter, USA. Civilian version.
- Eurocopter – AS550 C3 Fennec
- Army Technology – AS 550 Fennec Single-Engined Light Military Helicopter, Europe
- Aerospace Technology – Kamov Ka-226 Sergei Light Multipurpose Helicopter, Russia
- Airforce.RU – Ka-226, in Russian. Includes picture gallery.
- Aviation Week (May 21/10) – New Delhi Rotary Ambitions Continue To Climb. Cover RSH, plus Navy, Coast Guard, and attack competitions underway.
- Agence France-Presse (June 15/05) – EADS Faces Rising Opposition To Entry of U.S. Market
- Bell Helicopter News Release (June 13/05) – Bell Flies ARH Demonstrator
- Deccan Herald (May 10/05) – Eurocopter, Bell vie for Indian Army contract
- The Hindu (Feb 14/05) – HAL inks deal with Eurocopter
- Indian Journal of Aerospace Medicine (1999 Winter; 43(2): 59-67) – The elusive oxygen mask helmet system for cheetah helicopter: a cause for erosion of accepted norms in the field. “ABSTRACT: Recently IAM was tasked to evaluate two Oxygen Mask-Helmet systems, one locally modified and one imported, for Cheetah helicopter which has been operationally flying in service for the past 20 years for IAF and Indian Army. An ideal system has remained elusive till date. This paper brings out the continuing erosion of the accepted norms and the compromise with dangers of hypoxia, in terms of high altitude operations of this helicopter. The flight safety issues of this compromise have been brought out and findings of the two system evaluations are presented as a solution, requiring immediate attention.”
