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After years of delay and procrastination, the Indian Army has decided to acquire 20 “Cheetal” helicopters from the state-owned Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL). The ageing fleet of “Cheetah” and “Chetak” helicopters with what the Indian Army have are in dire need of replacements since they have been in service for three decades.
With constant delays plaguing the acquisition of helicopters, this sudden defence acquisition of 20 “Cheetal” helicopters is one of the many that India performs due to constant delays in the modernisation plans of the Indian Armed forces.
The “Cheetal” helicopter is the re-engined Cheetah helicopter, with the replacement of the Artouste IIIB with the TM 333-2M2 engine. The reduced weight of the TM 333-2M2 engine, with better specific fuel consumption enables increased range, endurance and payload making the helicopter more versatile in various roles, including search and rescue operations and missions in high altitude.
Interestingly, the “Cheetal” helicopter has landed at 23,220 feet (7070 metres) pressure altitude equivalent to 25,150 feet (7670 metres) density altitude at Saser Kangri of the Ladakh region in the Himalayas in November 2004, setting a world record in high altitude landing. The Indian Air Force is already using the “Cheetal” helicopters for various missions.
In 2003, a global tender for 197 helicopters was floated for replacing the “Cheetah” and “Chetak” helicopters. The Indian Army dissolved the contract that was given to France-based Eurocopter SA, after allegations of unfair trials by competitor Bell Helicopter and a second tender was floated in 2008.
Defence analysts feel that these kinds of ad-hoc acquisitions may negatively affect the modernisation plans of the Indian forces. Since these kind of ad-hoc deals drain the money earmarked and allocated for some other helicopter, there is uneven spending of the funds. Besides, these kind of fast-track acquisitions make the open competition in defence deals useless.
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