HAL likely to licence build Ka-226T ‘Hoodlum’ for Army, Air Force

•Sources in Delhi have said HAL is likely to form a JV with Russian Helicopters to licence-build 200 Kamov Ka-226T multirole helicopters
•The proposed JV would lead to the scrapping of an anticipated RSH tender, which is currently in the RfI stage

India’s state-owned Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) is likely to form a joint venture (JV) with Russian Helicopters to licence-build 200 Kamov Ka-226T ‘Hoodlum’ light multirole helicopters for the Indian military for an estimated USD700 million, official sources said.

They said HAL was in advanced talks with the Ministry of Defence (MoD) to establish the JV to manufacture the twin-engine Ka-226Ts in Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar’s home state of Goa.

India aims to employ the Ka-226T, a variant of which is in service only with the Russian Air Force, for armed reconnaissance, forward air control, directing artillery fire, inserting troops for special missions, and for casualty evacuation.

These talks followed a feasibility report that HAL presented to the MoD soon after Russian President Vladimir Putin offered the Ka-226T to India during his December 2014 visit to New Delhi.

The MoD approved the Ka-226T programme on 13 May as a replacement for the obsolete Chetak (Aerospatiale Alouette III) and Cheetah (Aerospatiale SA-315B), which is being operated by the Army Aviation Corps (AAC) and the Indian Air Force (IAF).

Official sources said the direct import of a “limited number” of Ka-226Ts – possibly around 50 – was almost certain to meet the IAF’s and AAC’s immediate requirements once the deal was inked under an Inter Governmental Agreement. HAL anticipates an annual production rate of 30 to 40 Ka-226Ts, with indigenous content rising to 30% three to four years after manufacture begins.

Officials said another aspect that prompted the MoD’s decision to opt for the Ka-226T was its Turbomecca Arrius 2G1 engine, which is manufactured by France’s Safran, with whom HAL has a long-standing technical collaboration.
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Prague’s original lease agreement – contracted in April 2004 – covered the provision of 14 aircraft and spare parts, with the fleet to deliver a combined annual total of 2,100 flight hours.
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The follow-on agreement is for the same number of flight hours per year, but was reached at a price reduction of around 30% against the first award.

So, with 14 Gripens to fly 2100 flight hours per year, works out to approximately 150 hours per year for each Gripen. So NATO pilots are getting an average of 150 hours per year it appears.

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What could anyone possibly want 200 of the little ******s for?

for

Once introduced, the co-axial Ka-226T light helicopter will be used by the Indian services for roles such as armed reconnaissance, the direction of artillery fire, insertion of quick reaction teams for special missions, plus forward air control and casualty evacuation.

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