HAL inks pact with Russian firm to manufacture helicopters

New Delhi: Russia’s Rostech State Corp. has tied up with Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL) for manufacture of at least 200 Kamov 226T light helicopters to replace the ageing fleet of Cheetah and Chetak, in a deal estimated to be worth $1 billion under the Make in India initiative.

“The agreement with India is the result of the long work with our Indian partners,” said Sergei Chemezov, chief executive officer, Rostech. “The organization for the manufacture of helicopters is provided by the creation of a Russian-Indian joint venture in India, which includes holdings of Rostech-JSC Rosoboronexport and Russian Helicopters, and on the India side, HAL,” he said.

This is the first Indo-Russian high-tech project implemented by the Indian government within the framework of the Make in India programme. During the recent visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Moscow, an agreement was signed between the two countries on cooperation in the field of helicopter manufacturing. The document was signed in the presence of Modi and Russian President Vladimir Putin.

According to the document, Rostech will organize in India the production of the Kamov 226T and its modifications in some 200 units. The agreement also provides for maintenance, operation and repair of helicopters.

Chemezov said the programme can be extended, and both partners are considering the possibility of joint access to other markets as well.

Modi is set to inaugurate a new helicopter production facility of HAL at Tumkur in Karnataka on Sunday. People familiar with the matter said that while the facility will be used for manufacturing the Advanced Light Helicopters, Kamov could also be built there.

The defence ministry had in August last year scrapped a scam-tainted tender worth over ₹ 6,000 crore to procure 197 light utility helicopters for the army and the air force to replace the fleet of Cheetah and Chetak choppers, which are used to move troop and equipment to high-altitude locations such as Siachen.

Following Russia’s offer to manufacture Kamov in India, the defence acquisition council, chaired by defence minister Manohar Parrikar, accepted it. Though the initial order is only for 200 helicopters, it is likely to be increased later on.

In a report submitted to Parliament recently, the Comptroller and Auditor General of India said that out of the 181 Cheetah and Chetak helicopters held by the army, 51 were 40 years or older, and 78 were between 30 and 40 years old.

A group of army officers’ wives had in March urged the defence minister to stop the use of “outdated” Cheetah and Chetak helicopters, which have claimed a number of lives in accidents. PTI