Govt to ask global bids for largest-ever light choppers

It's a good news for army aviation forces, which is so far known as a novice air operator due to lack of its own helicopters in its kitty, as government has cleared the way of acquiring large number of light choppers for military forces as well as Indian Air Forces on the combo-bidding basis for fulfilling their demand to vigil 3000 km of long border with China and the world’s highest battle field Siachen.

The Defence Acquisition Council, the highest weapon contract-clearing agency chaired by defence minister A K Antony on Wednesday has approved to ask global bidding for purchasing of the largest-ever numbers of helicopters for military and IAF for filling up their multipurpose demands, for which they are asking since long time.

Defence Ministry has decided to purchase 384 light choppers including the replacement option of ageing Cheetah and Chetak fleets that are also being used in Siachen glacier. Out of 384 choppers, Indian Army will get a bigger share of 259 helicopters while IAF will get remaining 125 choppers, which they will get in the replacement option of French acquired fleet Cheetah and Chetak.

Defence Ministry has estimated to sum up the total deal around Rs.6,000-crore, while it could not be able to make up its mind for purchasing the choppers for Indian Naval forces.

In the global tender or fresh Request For Proposal (RFP) for acquiring the combine demand of Army and IAF, the entire process will take at least two-three years more for sealing the final deal that include the process of selection of bids, field trials, technical and commercial negotiations.

However, government was considering to obtain a total of 695 helicopters including current decided deal of 384 light choppers and another 166 indigenous Dhruv advance light helicopters in the coming future. Besides light choppers, government is looking for to acquire 80 medium-lift, 22 attack, 16 anti-submarine warfare, 15 heavy-lift and 12 VVIP helicopters from foreign vendors.

According to Ministry of Defence, 197 among the 384 would be purchased on the shelf while remaining choppers would be assembled in India, by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited, (HAL) Bangalore under technology transfer.