Indian Air Force may have no VVIP helicopters after 2014
Source: Daily Mail India, 22-Apr-13
After February 2014, VVIPs may not be able to fly in an Indian Air Force helicopter, as there may not be a single one left in the IAF’s elite squadron, which ferries the Prime Minister, the President, senior ministers and other top dignitaries. (See full story)
HAL signs contract for 20 Cheetal helicopters
Source: HAL, 25-Feb-13
HAL has signed contract worth Rs. 418 crore with the Ministry of Defence for supply of 20 Cheetal helicopters and associated equipments to the Indian Army over the next four years. HAL will also provide training to the pilots and technical crew. This is the first contract for supply of Cheetal helicopters to the Indian [...]
India’s AW101s – AgustaWestland has 7 days to respond
Source: HeliHub.com, 18-Feb-13
The Indian military have commenced legal proceedings which they hope will lead to the cancellation of their order for twelve VVIP AW101 helicopters. Through the formality of issuing a “show cause notice”, AgustaWestland now have to respond to the court within seven days on specific points to determine whether the contract remains valid or not. [...]
India’s AW101s – Focus on the middlemen
18-Feb-13
“Haschke [the middleman] sold AgustaWestland a story based on my relationship with (cousin) SP Tyagi. We have strained ties. He (Haschke) used my name to siphon off money. The CBI probe will bring out the truth. I welcome the CBI probe,” said the former Indian Air Force chief. (see full story) A new angle has [...]
India to scrap AW101 order if any wrongdoing found
Source: DD India, 14-Feb-13
A day after ordering the CBI probe, Defence Minister A K Antony told reporters that strong action will be taken against those found guilty. “Nobody will be spared whatever may be the consequences,” he told reporters on the alleged Italian chopper scam. (see full story) So far three of the twelve VVIP AW101s ordered have [...]
India AW101 – Alleged middleman met Air Force chief 6 or 7 times
14-Feb-13
The middleman, Guido Haschke, has also said that he received 20 million euros as commission and of this, 12 million euros were passed on to S P Tyagi’s Delhi-based businessmen cousins Julie Tyagi, Docsa Tyagi and Sandeep Tyagi. (see full story)
Telephonics wins follow-up contract with Kazan Helicopters
Source: Telephonics, 25-Jan-13
Telephonics Corporation (Telephonics), a wholly owned subsidiary of Griffon Corporation (NYSE:GFF), today announced a second contract from the Russian manufacturer of the world-renowned Mi-8/17 family of helicopters, Kazan Helicopters, part of the Russian Helicopters company. Telephonics will supply eighty-five (85) RDR-1600 weather avoidance search and rescue radars to Kazan for installation on the Mi-17V-5 helicopters [...]
India inducts armed Mi-17 squadron in Rajasthan
Source: Zee News, 08-Jan-13
Air Chief Marshal NAK Browne inducting an armed Mi-17V5 helicopter squadron at Phalodi air base in Rajasthan on Monday (see full story)
Russian Helicopters to build more Mi-17V-5 for Indian Air Force
Source: Russian Helicopters, 01-Jan-13
Rosoboronexport and the Indian Ministry of Defence have signed an agreement on the delivery another consignment of Russia-made military transport Mi-17V-5 helicopters by 2015. The agreement was signed during the visit of Russian President Vladimir Putin to India on December 24, 2012. The new consignment of Mi-17V-5 helicopters falls under a contract signed by the [...]
Sikorsky point finger at AgustaWestland over Indian VVIP order, says press
15-Apr-12
The Indian press continue to have AgustaWestland in their firing line over the order for twelve VVIP helicopters which they won with the VVIP. Now the Express quotes an un-named Sikorsky official saying “There’s enough conclusive evidence. Let the law take its own course. The ministry has ordered a probe and the law of the [...]
MI-17 V5 to be inducted into Inidan Air Force today
Source: Press Information Bureau, 17-Feb-12
Mi-17 V5 helicopter would be inducted into the IAF on 17 February 2012. This helicopter falls in the category of armed helicopter, with substantial and effective firepower with the latest and more powerful engines that will greatly enhance its payload carriage capability at higher altitudes. Mi-17 V5, an upgrade of Mi-17 in the medium -lift [...]
First Mi-17-V5 batch delivered to India
Source: Russian Helicopters, 10-Nov-11
The first batch of Mi-17V-5 helicopters have been delivered to the Indian side under the contract signed by Rosoboronexport, JSC in December 2008 during the visit to India of Russian President Dmitry Medvedev. The helicopters are manufactured by Kazan Helicopters, a subsidiary of the Russian Helicopters holding company. India is considered Russia’s a strategic partner [...]
Indian Air Force embarassment as two VVIP Mi-17s “go tech”
06-May-11
Two Mi-17 helicopters deployed to ferry defence minister A K Antony and his high-level entourage to forward areas in Rajasthan developed technical snags, one after the other, on Monday.
UN to give helicopters back to India by June
Source: Hindustan Times, 25-Jan-11
The helicopters that are being called back have to undergo overhauling, including the changing the UN colours. The Indian Air Force has 11 Mi-17s and eight Mi-35s in the Democratic Republic of Congo. In Sudan, the IAF has deployed six M-17s.
HAL defends Dhruv following critical report
Source: Aviation News, 13-Aug-10
HAL is coming to the defense of its flagship rotary-wing aircraft, the Dhruv Advanced Light Helicopter, following a critical report from India’s Comptroller and Auditor General.
New evidence on causes of two Dhruv crashes; Nasty IAF-HAL spat detailed
Source: Indian-Military.org, 10-Aug-10
A new report by India’s national audit watchdog has thrown fresh and damning light on how HAL dealt with a flight control phenomenon that has given its chopper division real nightmares over the last few years — cyclic saturation.
Indian military Mi-17 and Dhruv to be armed with multi-barrel guns
Source: Brahmand, 12-Mar-10
The government has invited proposals for procuring multi-barrel gatlin guns which can be mounted on MI-17 and ‘Dhruv’ helicopters for use by security forces like the NSG and para-military commandos.
Indian Air Force Signs €560 Million Contract For 12 AW101
Source: AgustaWestland, 11-Mar-10
AgustaWestland, a Finmeccanica company, is pleased to announce that a contract has been signed by the Government of India for the acquisition of twelve AW101 helicopters that will perform government transport duties. The contract, valued at around € 560 million, includes an extensive five year logistic support service and initial aircrew and technician training. Over 180 [...]
Eurocopter opts out of Indian Air Force $2 billion helicopter tender
Source: Domain-B, 27-Oct-09
Sources indicate that the Eurocopter’s product, the Tigre ARH, may not be ready in time to participate in field trials next year as it is undergoing an upgrade
