India further details Ka-226T procurement program.

India`s Ministry of Defense has issued a detailed request for proposals (RfP) to the Russian-Indian joint venture (JV) Helicopters Limited Company (HLC) for 200 Kamov Ka-226T (NATO reporting name: Hoodlum) light utility helicopters, according to Indian official sources.

A Russian Helicopters Ka-226 light utility helicopter
(Credit: Russian Helicopters)

In late August, the HLC received the RfP, which contained some technical and commercial details about the planned acquisition of the Ka-226T rotorcraft by the Indian military. India`s MoD is planning to acquire a total of 200 Ka-226Ts, including 60 set to be supplied by Russia in flyaway condition and 140 set to be produced under license in India by the HLC.

The HLC JV has been established by India`s Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL; owns a 50.5% stake) corporation and Russia` Russian Helicopters holding (a subsidiary of Rostec state corporation; owns a 49.5% stake).

According to the Jane`s think tank, of 140 helicopters set to be built India, 100 will incorporate an increased share (between 30% and 40%) of Indian-made components.

New Delhi acquires the Ka-226T in order to replace the out-of-date Chetak (a locally built copy of the Aerospatiale Alouette III light utility helicopter) and Cheetah (a locally built copy of the Aerospatiale SA-315B light utility helicopter) light rotary-wing platforms of the Indian Army (IA) and the Indian Air Force (IAF). The military is planning to assign 140 Ka-226Ts to the Army Aviation Corps (AAC) of the IA and 60 helicopters to the IAF.

The contract for the Ka-226T is expected to be signed in October during a visit of President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin to India.

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