IAF selects Boeing's Apache Longbow combat helicopter for chopper tender

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NEW DELHI | Russian Mi-28N Night Hunter has lost a tender on the delivery of 22 attack helicopters to the Indian military in strong competition with the American AH-64D Apache, an Indian Defense Ministry source said on Tuesday, according to RIA Novosti.

“We decided not to choose the Mi-28 for technical reasons. Our experts believe that the Mi-28N did not meet the requirements of the tender on 20 positions, while the Apache showed better performance,” the source said.

The future contract, worth at least $600 million, envisions an optional delivery of additional 22 helicopters.

Russia is still taking part in two other Indian helicopter tenders: on the delivery of 12 heavy transport helicopters and 197 light general-purpose helicopters.

The first tender includes the Russian Mi-26T2 and the American CH-47F Chinook helicopters, while the second involves the Russian Ka-226T and the AS550 Fennec helicopter, developed by Eurocopter.

Meanwhile, Russia continues the deliveries of Mi-17-B5 transport helicopters to India under a 2008 contract for the supply of 80 helicopters worth $1.4 billion.

The Indian military helicopter market, with its potential demand for 700 helicopters in the next decade, fuels fierce competition among foreign manufacturers. (RIA Novosti)

“Night Hunter” loses helicopter tender in India: experts’ comments
October 27, 2011
RIR
Experts gave their explications of India’s decision to buy American Boeing AH-64D Apache helicopters instead of Russian Mi-28N “Night Hunters”. And the reasons go beyond aircrafts’ technical specifications.
“Night Hunter” loses helicopter tender in India: experts’ comments
Mi-28N “Night Hunter” is not going to fly in Indian sky. Source: ITAR-TASS



Ruslan Pukhov, Director of Strategies and Technologies Analysis Centre, thinks that there are a number of reasons for losing the Indian tender, and the technical condition of the aircraft is not the main reason despite the Indian officials’ claims that their ground for choosing Apache aircrafts was the superiority of their technical specifications.



A representative for the Western Air Command in New Delhi stated that “both machines worked excellently, but the American helicopter had increased capabilities and displayed superior all-weather applications.”



True, there is room for improvement for Mi-28N “Night Hunters”, and some specifications should be upgraded. For example, according to Mr. Sukhov, the aircrafts’ operating system has to be improved, and also the radar allowing for the helicopters’ functioning at night and in bad weather doesn’t work properly.



But there may be other considerations that have influenced the decision of the Indian Ministry of Defence.



At the moment there are two more helicopter tenders in India for the purchase of multipurpose helicopters and super heavy helicopters, and Russian aircrafts take part in both of them – Ka-226 participates in the first tender, and Mi-26 in the second one respectively. And Ruslan Sukhov believes that, with both helicopters standing a high chance of winning the competitions, India simply can’t give all the three tenders to Russia.


The expert also claims that the current fascination with American aircrafts may have had an impact on the decision of Indian Ministry of Defence. Mr. Sukhov said that the advantages of American helicopters are widely known but there is little information on their shortcomings.


The history of comparisons between the Russian and American aircrafts in question dates back to 1995 when a group of Swedish experts tested the previous modification of Russian Mi-28N “Night Hunter” helicopters. According to the results of the exercise carried out by the Russian and Swedish pilots, Mi-28N outperforms its foreign rivals in flight performance, combat survivability, arms specifications and operating convenience are concerned. However, they believe the Russian helicopter concedes to the American chopper as far as its shooting accuracy is concerned. However, this exercise took place more than a decade ago, and lately Indians have had more opportunities to observe the American helicopter in action.



In India there are currently three tenders for the supply of helicopters to the Air Force – 22 attack helicopters, 12 heavy transport helicopters and 197 general-purpose light helicopters. The total value of the tenders is more than $2.5 billion. There are plans to extend the contract for the delivery of 22 attack helicopters to 44 or more.



Russian manufacturers have taken part in all three competitions, but it is not yet known who will win the other two. It is particularly important for Russia to win the contract for light helicopters, as it would allow them to penetrate a new market sector in India. Two candidates remain for this tender – the Eurocopter AS550 Fennec and the Kamov Ka-226T. The winner will be awarded a contract to replace the sizeable Indian Alouette II/III fleet which is mainly based in the mountainous northern areas of the country. The contract to deliver heavy transport helicopters will go to either the Russian Mi-26T2 or the American CH-47F Chinook.



The Indian Defence Ministry also plans to hold a number of future competitions for the procurement of helicopters, including one for the delivery of multipurpose helicopters for the country’s Navy. Experts estimate that India will deploy about 700 helicopters over the next ten years.

Peace
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