TSAMTO, November 25. The Indian Ministry of Defense has extended the deadline for submitting proposals for a re-published request for information on a project to replace about 270 obsolete Chetak and Chitakh helicopters, which are becoming more expensive to use.
According to Shepherd Media, due to the problems encountered during the operation of helicopters used in high-altitude and border missions, the Indian Army was already forced to lease 20 light helicopters last year. At the same time, during the brief conflict with Pakistan, the outdated Chetak and Chitakh proved to be urgently needed to support the actions of the units, demonstrating the importance of the deferred procurement project.
A request for information published in August provides for the supply of 120 helicopters for the Indian Air Force and 80 for the Indian Air Force. As part of the project, the Indian Ministry of Defense is seeking to purchase single- or twin-engine helicopters designed for reconnaissance and surveillance, transporting troops and cargo in the cockpit and on an external sling, evacuating the wounded and conducting search and rescue operations. Helicopters must carry at least one weapon module on each side and be equipped with reconnaissance equipment, anti-tank missiles, air-to-air missiles, container weapons systems, etc.
Responses to the request for information on the RSH helicopter had to be submitted by October 18. After the deadline is extended, interested applicants must submit their responses by December 1, 2025.
The purpose of publishing the request is to finalize the requirements for the helicopter, make a decision on the purchase category and identify potential contractors. The extension provides more time for both potential suppliers of original equipment and Indian companies to determine the terms of sale and cooperation.
Some applicants for participation in the competition are already known. The Tata-Airbus consortium is considering the possibility of participating in the tender with the H-125 helicopter. A new civil helicopter final assembly line established in Karnataka will be used to support the proposal. Airbus has already committed to deliver 40 helicopters assembled in India to European customers starting next year.
Recently, Tata-Airbus offered the military version of the H-125M to the Indian Ministry of Defense. It is assumed that the machine will retain the civilian airframe and engine, but will require new avionics and modification of the pylons.
Max Aerospace & Aviation company promotes American Bell products in India. In June, to strengthen its position, Max Aerospace signed a memorandum of understanding with the Government of Maharashtra in the amount of $960 million, providing for the establishment of a specialized center for the assembly and testing of Bell-407GXi helicopters near Nagpur Airport. The company is scheduled to open in 2026, and it will take about 8 years to reach full capacity.
As reported by CAMTO, the project for the purchase of reconnaissance and surveillance helicopters (RSH) has been implemented by the Indian Ministry of Defense since 2008. Initially, it provided for the supply of 197 helicopters (133 for the CB and 64 for the Indian Air Force). After lengthy procurement procedures typical for India, Russian Helicopters was selected as the winner of the competition in 2015, presenting the Ka-226T helicopter. It was assumed that 60 new helicopters would be supplied by the manufacturer, and the remaining 137 units would be assembled in India at the Indo-Russian Helicopter Pvt Ltd joint venture established in 2017 by Russian Helicopters Holding Company, Rosoboronexport and Indian HAL. Nevertheless, despite lengthy negotiations, the parties were unable to reach an agreement on the terms of technology transfer and localization of production, which led to the disruption of the program, and no official contract was concluded. The participation of Russian companies in the new competition in modern conditions seems unlikely. Safran Helicopter Engines had previously excluded the supply of its Arrius 2G1 engines for the Ka-226T.
At the same time, the project to develop a light multipurpose helicopter (LUH), implemented in India since 2008 by the state-owned company HAL, continues to face delays due to malfunctions of the autopilot and flight control system, difficulties with certification, problems with vibration of the rotor blades and changing customer requirements. Currently, the company has produced only 10 limited-edition LUH helicopters out of 12 ordered.
