NEW DELHI, Aug 9— The Ministry of Defence (MoD) has begun the process of acquiring 200 helicopters for the Army and the Indian Air Force to replace the decades-old Cheetah and Chetak aircraft, some of which have been in service for more than 60 years.
On Friday, the ministry issued a Request for Information (RFI), the first step in the tender process, seeking 120 reconnaissance and surveillance helicopters for the Army Aviation Corps and 80 for the Air Force. Manufacturers may partner with Indian firms to bid for the project, but the aircraft must be built in India.
The MoD intends to shortlist vendors, including an Indian company that will form a joint venture with an original equipment manufacturer, which could be domestic or foreign. A meeting with potential bidders is planned within a month.
Unlike previous procurements, the ministry has not limited the requirement to single-engine aircraft and is open to twin-engine options. The helicopters must be able to operate day and night, perform reconnaissance and surveillance, transport small troops or quick reaction teams, carry internal and external loads, and scout alongside attack helicopters.
Given the deployment in extreme conditions — from hot deserts to the permafrost of Siachen — the ministry has specified payload capacities for altitudes above 16,000 feet. Currently, the Army and IAF use single-engine Cheetah and Chetak helicopters or twin-engine Advanced Light Helicopters (ALH) in mountain operations.
The Chetak, based on the French Aérospatiale Alouette-III, entered service in 1962, with licensed production by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) starting in 1965. The Cheetah, derived from the Aérospatiale SA 315B Lama, joined service in 1976. Calls for their retirement have grown after multiple accidents, including fatal crashes.
Of the 246 Cheetah and Chetak helicopters produced, the Army Aviation Corps operates about 190, with nearly 30 undergoing maintenance. While the Army and Air Force together require more than 450 light helicopters, the Army alone needs about 250.
Separately, the Army plans to buy 80 indigenous Light Utility Helicopters from HAL, but delivery has been delayed due to autopilot system issues. The LUH completed high-altitude trials in 2020 and received Initial Operational Clearance in 2021.
