The Indian Navy’s capabilities to ward off airborne and surface-based threats will get a tremendous boost since the Indian government has approved the acquisition of five Russian Kamov-31 early warning choppers.
The Cabinet Committee of Security (CCS) has given its approval for procuring these choppers which can track 30-40 targets on ground and air simultaneously with its airborne electronic warfare radar mounted on the underbelly of the chopper.
The Indian Navy already has a fleet of nine KA-31 helicopters, which are deployed on India’s only aircraft carrier INS Virat and the Talwar Class guided missile stealth frigates of the navy.
The Indian Navy’s first batch of four Ka-31’s entered service in April 2003. The second batch of five was delivered in 2005.
The KA-31 helicopter is intended for long-range detection of air targets of a fixed-wing/helicopter type, including detection at low altitudes, and over-water ships, their tracking and automatic transmission of their data to the command posts.
One visually distinctive feature of the Ka-31 is the large antenna of the early warning radar, which is either rotating or folded and stowed under the fuselage.
The second is the reduction of the bulky electro-optical sensory suite beneath the cockpit. The landing gear retracts in order to prevent interference with the radar.
The KA-31 helicopter will significantly increase the combat mission efficiency of Navy ships by providing them with timely information about the actions of the ships, fixed-wing aircraft and combat helicopters of the enemy.
In order to modernize its air arm, the Indian Navy is on a look out for various types of helicopters including the 10 tonne class multirole helicopters for which global tenders were released last year.
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