HAL developing light choppers for high-alt ops

Indian aerospace major HAL is developing an indigenous light utility helicopter to ferry troops and supplies in high altitude areas such as Siachen Glacier as a programme to procure 197 such choppers from foreign sellers is delayed in view of a CBI probe.

The programme for developing the three-tonne helicopter is in the 'design freeze' stage after consultations with the armed-forces headquarters, including the Army and Air Force. The machine is expected to be ready by 2015.

"The LUH programme is progressing well and the project has achieved 'design freeze' following the concurrence from armed forces headquarters. The first ground test vehicle is being made ready for factory tests," Hindustan Aero-nautics Limited officials said here. The single-engine chopper will be powered by a French engine, which has been chosen by the country's only aerospace company through a tendering process. Asked whether they would be able to meet the scheduled timeline of 2015, HAL officials said, "We are confident about adhering to the timeline specified by the government."

The need for developing an indigenous light chopper was felt by HAL soon after Kargil War where Indian and Pakistani troops were engaged in a limited conflict for over 40 days at altitudes of above 10,000 feet. Earlier, the plan was to supply 384 light choppers to the Army and IAF of which 197 were to be procured from foreign vendors while the remaining were to be produced by HAL. But, at the moment, the plan to procure 197 choppers from abroad is delayed due to various reasons.

The first tender to procure the choppers was scrapped by Defence Minister AK Antony after some wrongdoing was detected in them. The second tender has been caught up for over a year now after the government ordered a CBI probe into allegations that a Brig-adier had sought a bribe of about Rs 25 crore for helping a particular vendor in the case.

These choppers are mainly deployed in high-altitude areas in Ladakh to provide supplies to Indian troops deployed there at heights of between 10,000-23,000 feet.