India’s Wait for 197 Light Choppers May Get Longer

India’s long delayed procurement for 197 light helicopters may stretch even longer going by fresh information about the trails, as reported by the Indian media, besides progress in certification of the two contenders, Eurofighter Fennec AS550C3 and the Kamov 226T. The validity of the bids of the two finalists, Eurocopter and Russian Helicopters (Kamov) had been extended till the end of December 2011 but it remains to be seen if the finalist in the US$1 billion deal is announced by deadline time. A news agency report dated November 13, 2011 said that the Department of Defence Finance, a part of the Indian MoD had raised objections over the trial process where one of the requirements in the RFP, which was to land at over 15,000 feet and take off the next day without external power, was not fulfilled. The trials conducted by army were held at 12,000 feet, the report said. An industry source pointed out that one of the contenders, Kamov with its KA-226T helicopter had been restricted during the trials as its Arrius 2G1 engine was unable to operate at optimum level above 15000 feet as the engine was then not certified for such high altitude operations. However, the engine recently received the European Safety Agency (EASA) certification, the announcement of which was made during the Dubai Air Show in November 2011. The Arrius 2G1 is made by the French firm, Turbomeca, a part of the Safran Group and this is the first time it is being tried out in a coaxial propeller helicopter. Similarly, the Eurocopter AS550 C3 engine, the Arriel 2G1B with a customized FEDEC (the electronic control of the engine) is yet to certified for very high altitude missions, the sources said. India wants the helicopters to be used by its army for high altitude missions such as ferrying men and supplies by altitudes in excess of 18000 feet. The missions are currently operated by an ageing fleet of Cheetah/ Chetak helicopters. The requirement is for over 300 helicopters.