HAL LUH / Ka-226: News and Discussions

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Russia, India agree on delivery of 200 Ka-226 multi-role, Mi-171A2 helicopters: Official
Moscow, Nov 12 (UNI) Russia and India will sign a contract on the delivery of 200 Ka-226 multirole helicopters well as Mi-171A2 helicopter in several months.
"We will sign a contract on the delivery of 200 Ka-226 helicopters for the Indian Defence Ministry later this year, but most likely in early 2018," Russian Helicopters CEO Andrei Boginsky told RIA news agency.
Boginsky said an India-based joint venture which will provide the helicopter assembly and service maintenance, is currently operating successfully.
The Ka-226 series of helicopters are designed by the Kamov Design Bureau, part of Russian Helicopters company. It is a lightweight, twin-engine utility helicopter, which features an interchangeable mission pod, allowing the use of various payload configurations.
The agreement between Russia and India on helicopter construction was signed in 2015. According to the document, Russian Helicopters organises deliveries to India and localisation of production in this country of Russian Ka-226T helicopters and its modifications in the amount of 200 units, at least 140 of which will be produced at the facilities of the joint venture in India.
Russian Helicopters will sign a contract with an Indian company during Dubai Airshow 2017 for the delivery of Mi-171A2 helicopters, Boginsky said, adding that "in parallel, we will certify Mi-171A2 in India."
According to the Russian Helicopters, "Mi-171A2 is the newest multi-purpose, mid-range helicopter, combining the unique experience in the operation of Mi-8/17 helicopters and the latest technical solutions. The Mi-171A2 offers the highest level of reliability, safety and comfort. This helicopter sets new standards for mid-range helicopters."
Read more at http://www.uniindia.com/russia-indi...l/world/news/1044817.html#lCx5c8UJv10WRVvJ.99
 
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MOSCOW: The production of 200 Kamov lightweight multi-role military helicopters for India will be done in four stages to ensure the transfer of technology for its main components under the Indo-Russian joint venture, a senior official for the programme has said.
Under the Indo-Russia joint venture, 200 Kamov 226T helicopters will be produced out of which 60 would be supplied to India in fly-away condition. One hundred forty helicopters will be manufactured in India under a USD 1 billion deal inked in 2015.
"The project will be implemented on the basis of an inter-governmental agreement, under which the Russian side has taken the obligation to transfer technology and achievement of the highest possible level of localisation in the customer's country," Dmitriy Shvets, director of Kamov-226T programme said here.

"By that, we mean that within the localisation there will be four stages for production from of transferring technology to production of helicopters and its main components," Shvets said.
According to officials of Russian Helicopters, the first stage includes the delivery of assembled helicopters from Russia.
The second stage includes delivery of joint venture helicopter components and preparation for localisation, technology transfer and technical assistance.
The third stage is the production of components from supplied materials and assembly. The fourth stage is full assembly of helicopters from components with materials produced locally or delivered from Russia and involves customer personnel joint training and infrastructure setup of service and maintenance center.

When asked to clarify the share percentage of Russian and locally produced components, Shvets said, "As per the inter- governmental agreement the Russian side has taken the obligation to transfer technology and achievement of highest possible level of localisation. To implement the project we have to comply with certain legal framework of the country. This condition is included in the signed documents.
"Within the documents the localisation requirement is 40 per cent or higher. But I would like to note that this is the responsibility of the Joint Venture, that is comprised not only by the Russian side, represented by Russian Helicopters holding company, but also a key aviation company of the customer's country".
When asked when the delivery of helicopters to India would begin, a senior official of Kamov Design Bureau said, "We take our responsibility very seriously and will comply with the required timelines.
"The supply of the helicopters under the contract that you have mentioned is overseen by Rosoboronexport, and only they are can answer the question on the timeline for delivery," the official said.
In October last year, India and Russia finalised a broad agreement for a joint venture between Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL) and two Russian defence majors.

Production of Kamov helicopters for India to be done in four stages: Russian Official



2 helos (cheetah and chetak) could’ve been replaced by 1 (LUH) but instead the zoo will remain
 
MOSCOW: The production of 200 Kamov lightweight multi-role military helicopters for India will be done in four stages to ensure the transfer of technology for its main components under the Indo-Russian joint venture, a senior official for the programme has said.
Under the Indo-Russia joint venture, 200 Kamov 226T helicopters will be produced out of which 60 would be supplied to India in fly-away condition. One hundred forty helicopters will be manufactured in India under a USD 1 billion deal inked in 2015.
"The project will be implemented on the basis of an inter-governmental agreement, under which the Russian side has taken the obligation to transfer technology and achievement of the highest possible level of localisation in the customer's country," Dmitriy Shvets, director of Kamov-226T programme said here.

"By that, we mean that within the localisation there will be four stages for production from of transferring technology to production of helicopters and its main components," Shvets said.
According to officials of Russian Helicopters, the first stage includes the delivery of assembled helicopters from Russia.
The second stage includes delivery of joint venture helicopter components and preparation for localisation, technology transfer and technical assistance.
The third stage is the production of components from supplied materials and assembly. The fourth stage is full assembly of helicopters from components with materials produced locally or delivered from Russia and involves customer personnel joint training and infrastructure setup of service and maintenance center.

When asked to clarify the share percentage of Russian and locally produced components, Shvets said, "As per the inter- governmental agreement the Russian side has taken the obligation to transfer technology and achievement of highest possible level of localisation. To implement the project we have to comply with certain legal framework of the country. This condition is included in the signed documents.
"Within the documents the localisation requirement is 40 per cent or higher. But I would like to note that this is the responsibility of the Joint Venture, that is comprised not only by the Russian side, represented by Russian Helicopters holding company, but also a key aviation company of the customer's country".
When asked when the delivery of helicopters to India would begin, a senior official of Kamov Design Bureau said, "We take our responsibility very seriously and will comply with the required timelines.
"The supply of the helicopters under the contract that you have mentioned is overseen by Rosoboronexport, and only they are can answer the question on the timeline for delivery," the official said.
In October last year, India and Russia finalised a broad agreement for a joint venture between Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL) and two Russian defence majors.

Production of Kamov helicopters for India to be done in four stages: Russian Official



2 helos (cheetah and chetak) could’ve been replaced by 1 (LUH) but instead the zoo will remain
What is the status of the LUH ? we do know that 2 prototypes have been built - but will there be a LSP/SP soon? unless this programs gets traction - the Ka226 numbers will increase
 
What is the status of the LUH ? we do know that 2 prototypes have been built - but will there be a LSP/SP soon? unless this programs gets traction - the Ka226 numbers will increase
3 prototypes built so far. IOC will be in 2018 and LSP soon thereafter.


There will be very very little gap between the first Ka-226 entering service and the first LUH entering service at this point. Phase 2 of HAL’s production plan for LUH (by around 2022) is for 60 LUH/year, at this rate HAL LUH can easily fulfil all IAF/IA demands. For sure HAL LUH numbers will be increased.
 
3 prototypes built so far. IOC will be in 2018 and LSP soon thereafter.


There will be very very little gap between the first Ka-226 entering service and the first LUH entering service at this point. Phase 2 of HAL’s production plan for LUH (by around 2022) is for 60 LUH/year, at this rate HAL LUH can easily fulfil all IAF/IA demands. For sure HAL LUH numbers will be increased.
Thanks for the update bro! ..... keep the new news coming! (y)

What are the updated numbers are we looking at?

(on a side note - hope more emojis are coming , missed the santa emoji :ROFLMAO:)
 
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Thanks for the update bro! ..... keep the new news coming! (y)

What are the updated numbers are we looking at?

(on a side note - hope more emojis are coming , missed the santa emoji :ROFLMAO:)
Total requirement between IA bad IAF for RSH/LUH is 600 units meaning even after current LUH and Ka226 orders there are >200 units required. Fingers crossed this gets awarded in total to HAL for their LUH early on, Ka226 is costly and HAL LUH will outperform it particularly in high altitudes
 
Total requirement between IA bad IAF for RSH/LUH is 600 units meaning even after current LUH and Ka226 orders there are >200 units required. Fingers crossed this gets awarded in total to HAL for their LUH early on, Ka226 is costly and HAL LUH will outperform it particularly in high altitudes
there might still be a need for the plug and play configuration of the kamov copters (changeable pod capsules) ?
 
Ukrainian Naval Aviation receives Kamov Ka-226 multirole helicopter

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Ka-226 of Ukrainian Naval Aviation. Photo by Dylan Malyasov


The Ukrainian Naval Aviation expects to receive Kamov Ka-226 multirole helicopter, said Ukrainian entrepreneur and volunteer Daulet Beisembayev.

“Ukrainian Naval Aviation will receive a new Ka-226 helicopter, which did not fly for nearly 9 years and was kept all the time in the hangar of the Lviv Aircraft Repair Plant,” Daulet Beisembayev said.

The Kamov Ka-226.50 (serial number 02-03, board number ‘41 yellow‘) was ordered by the government several years ago but were impounded when he arrived in Ukraine due to importation irregularities.

The contract for the delivery of Ka-226.50 helicopter was signed by the Ministry of Emergency Situations of Ukraine (since 2012 – the State Emergency Service of Ukraine) in September 2007 with the Ukrainian ‘Gelaxis’ company, which, in turn, ordered a helicopter to Kumertau Aircraft Production Enterprise (Russia) through the company Cantek Trading Inc. (Canada). But in 2011, the ‘Gelaxis’ company declared itself bankrupt and failed to comply with the terms of the contract and the helicopter was impounded.

After 2014, an initiative group of volunteers, led by Daulet, attempted to return the Ka-226 helicopter to service. They offered to hand over a helicopter to the Ukrainian Naval Aviation, which operates similar Ka-27 helicopters with a coaxial rotor.

According to Daulet Beisembayev, the Ka-226.50 helicopter can increase capabilities of the Ukrainian Naval Aviation which lost most of its aviation fleet during the Russian occupation of Crimea

The Kamov Ka-226.50 is a light multirole helicopter powered by Rolls-Royce M250 engines. This helicopter was developed both for military and civil customers. Ukraine received Medevac version of the helicopter equipped with stretchers to carry the injured, oxygen cylinders, and the requisite medical equipment.

Ukrainian Naval Aviation receives Kamov Ka-226 multirole helicopter | Defence Blog

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Analysis: Ka-226T preparing to land in India

Despite the slow progress of the Russian Helicopters Ka-226T India-Russia deal, it is set to be signed at last in the first quarter of this year.

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Andrey Boginsky, director general of Russian Helicopters, said that all details of the contract for delivery of 200 Kamov Ka-226T light utility helicopters to the Indian MoD were expected to be finally agreed between the parties by mid-December 2017 but this is still yet to be confirmed.

In May 2015, the 3.6t Ka-226T was selected as the winner in the protracted and hotly contested tender of the Indian MoD which outlined the replacement of its existing fleet of HAL Chetak and Cheetah aircraft.

The seller is Russia’s arms export agency, Rosobornexport, and the total price of the contract will exceed US$1 billion. One hundred and forty of these helicopters will be produced locally under the wide-ranging Make in India initiative by the Indian-Russian joint-venture company while the initial 60 will be built in Russia, at the Ulan-Ude Aviation Plant (U-UAP) in eastern Siberia.

The main contractor for the Ka-226T production in India will be the joint venture company established between Russian Helicopters and Indian aerospace company HAL in May 2017. It was eventually agreed between the partners that Russian Helicopters will hold a 49.5% stake in the joint venture, while Indian company HAL will take the remaining 50.5%.

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In addition to the helicopter production, the joint venture will also deal with the MRO of the delivered helicopters in addition to the provision of training services. Currently, both Kamov and U-UAP are busy with the preparation of the Ka-226T aircraft production process for India using the civil-certified Ka-226T design as a baseline.

It comes powered by two Safran Helicopter Engines Arrius 2G1, de-rated to 580shp in one engine inoperative mode to provide considerably enhanced performance in hot and high conditions, enabling operations at an elevation of up to 2,500m above sea level without affecting performance. The Ka-226T also features the UKBP KBO-226 flight/navigation suite with multi-functional colour displays and is provided with NVG compatible cockpit and exterior lighting.

The Ka-226T’s enhanced and militarised derivative, tailor-designed to meet the Indian MoD requirements is designated as the 226.54.

The helicopter uses an extensively redesigned baseline model and is set to be built by widely-using the new digital technologies. To make it possible, Kamov has developed an all-new 3D digital design model for the 226.54 by using the Dassault Systems CATIA V5 software for computer-aided design, computer-aided manufacturing and computer-aided engineering.

This digital model is being used at the U-UAP’s design department for the designing of the tooling to be used for helicopter assembly and also for the fabrications of parts on numerically-controlled milling machines. U-UAP will produce the forward section (including the cockpit), the middle section and the twin-boom/twin-fin tail section.

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The rotor column and blades will be produced in Russia at the Kumertau-based KumAPE plant, which is currently dealing with the small-scale Ka-226T production for Russian government customers.

This novel approach would speed up the production preparation phase and also would allow a significant reduction of the man-hours needed for the production process of helicopter parts and the necessary tooling.

According to Sergey Solomin, U-UAP’s chief engineer, the eventual goal for the Ka-226T manufacturing process is to reduce the labour cost share down to 20% of the helicopter’s production cost.

This figure, stated by Solomin, would be close to the production practices adopted in the US. He believes that the labour-reduction target could be met in three to five years from now, when the Ka-226T’s manufacturing process at U-UAP will be in full swing.

By that time, the production line will have a capacity of 30 to 35 helicopters a year. The final assembly line, which is currently in an early build-up phase, will be equipped with tooling and test equipment at six helicopter positions.

The Indian production of the Ka-226T will be divided into four phases. The first of these foresees simple assembly of Russian-made helicopters (transported to India in a partially disassembled state after assembly and testing at U-UAP) and completion of their ground and flight testing before handover to the Indian military.

The second phase will see the assembly of knocked-down component kits delivered from Russia. The third one will include a deeper assembly level by using Russian-made parts and the fourth phase will include production of helicopters by using Indian-fabricated parts from raw materials supplied from Russia.

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According to the contract requirements, all 200 helicopters will be delivered to the Indian MoD within a period spanning over nine years counted from the contract signature date. Immediately after the contract signature, the joint venture company is to begin working to establish the maintenance capability in India, expected to be ready within five years, while the overhaul capability is slated to be attained within seven years.

First deliveries of U-UAP-built Ka-226Ts are slated to begin in about 15 months after the contract signature, while the joint venture is scheduled to deliver the first Indian-built machines four years after the contract inking date.

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To meet the Make in India requirements, the eventual localisation of the Ka-226T’s production is set to be no less than 60%. At the same time, the engine supplier, Safran Helicopter Engines, is said to have also been involved in negotiations with the Indian MoD and the Indian aero engine industry for the localisation of the Arrius 2G1 turboshaft. In addition, Safran is said to have undertaken to certify the engine for operations at a maximum altitude of 6,500m.

The Indian MoD plans to field in army and air force service several Ka-226T sub-versions for undertaking a wide range of battlefield and support missions. The diverse list of the missions will range from casevac to varieties of reconnaissance operations and pilot training.


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The Ka-226T’s co-axial rotor system layout has several advantages deemed very useful for operations in India’s demanding hot and high environment and in the harsh mountain conditions in the Himalayas. Kamov stated that this specific layout creates compact overall dimensions while its aerodynamic symmetry provides excellent stability and the lack of a tail rotor simplifies the control system.

It also claims a co-axial helicopter is able to fly in higher ambient temperatures than a conventional helicopter without experiencing too much performance degradation and it is also able to operate safely in strong turbulence such as that encountered while flying over the sea or mountainous terrain.

The Indian Ka-226T fleet, featuring the flying chassis design, will use several interchangeable cabin pods for passenger transport, cargo transport and casevac duties. The time for changing one mission pod with another is within 40 minutes.

The number of detachable pods to be ordered will exceed the number of helicopters on order to provide an increased flexibility of use in a good many applications. For cargo transport, the pod will be replaced by an open cargo platform while external sling operations are set to be undertaken in the bare flying chassis configuration. The mission equipment of the SAR pod will include an external hoist rated at 270kg.

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The helicopter is cleared for operations in temperatures ranging from -50 to +50⁰ Celsius. Service life is set at 18,000 flight hours and 30 years.

The Indian Ka-226Ts will be delivered in several configurations. A proportion of these will feature emergency flotation devices, air conditioning systems, armament (including a fire control system), EO payloads for surveillance and targeting, video-recorders, tactical video downlink, HMD and cueing systems, armour protection for the pilots in the cockpit and a set of stretchers.

Analysis: Ka-226T preparing to land in India - DH - Defence Helicopter - Shephard Media
 
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is it possible to compare with LUH
% Of components made in house , speed of manufacturing , latest technologies in avionics / production , upgradation,
economics of make, flight hour, maintenance .. so as to understand where er stand in Heli industry
 
is it possible to compare with LUH
% Of components made in house , speed of manufacturing , latest technologies in avionics / production , upgradation,
economics of make, flight hour, maintenance .. so as to understand where er stand in Heli industry
If we can make ALH, LCH and Cheetah, then we can also make LUH. As of now, everything except engine is indigenous. Even engine is being completed by 2020.
 
I don't think so. Recently we bought some sensors for ALH from Saab.
ALH, LCH are not fully mature yet. It is in development phase and needs imported items to complete. The 41 ALH costs around 6100 crore which clearly is meaningless unless a massive infrastructure is planned to be constructed:
HAL signs contract for 41 Dhruv helicopters

If the cost is 15 crore per ALH, it only means that it isn't mature yet
 
If the cost is 15 crore per ALH, it only means that it isn't mature yet

ALH not matured?
we have mark III and Mark IV (Rudra) being manufactured.

total of 228 of ALH's have been manufactured - how much more to "mature" this platform?

A total of 228 Helicopters have been produced by March 2017 including 216 for the Indian Armed Forces.
from:DHRUV
 
ALH not matured?
we have mark III and Mark IV (Rudra) being manufactured.

total of 228 of ALH's have been manufactured - how much more to "mature" this platform?

A total of 228 Helicopters have been produced by March 2017 including 216 for the Indian Armed Forces.
from:DHRUV
ALH as a platform has matured but it is not fully upgraded with the required sensors, Helina missile integration etc. I don't think Rudra can fire ATGM misisles. Even Tejas had first flight in 2001 but after 2007-8, there was hardly any meaningful development. Though 10-15 Tejas has been made, it is still not mature. Same way, ALH is capable of being a strictly utility chopper but is incapable of being any better

All thanks to congress