Record tender Navy of India
The other day Indian media circulated news on the plans of the command of the Indian Navy. Indian commanders intend to soon announce a tender for the supply of a large number of helicopters that will serve in the future on Indian warships and perform various tasks. Of particular interest to the public is the volume of the future contract. It is planned to spend about six billion US dollars for the purchase of 120 helicopters for the Navy. Thus, the upcoming tender will be the largest in stories Indian purchases of imported military equipment. In addition, having signed this contract, India will retain first place in the list of buyers of weapons and military equipment, as well as significantly increase the combat potential of its naval forces.
As it became known a little less than a year ago, the main goal of the contract will be to replace the old Sikorsky SH-3 Sea King and Westland WS-61 Sea King helicopters. The newest of these helicopters were delivered back in the eighties of the last century and since then have only been repaired, but not modernized. These American and British-made helicopters currently perform a wide range of tasks, from transport to anti-submarine. The capabilities of Sea King helicopters are no longer sufficient to carry out combat operations in modern conditions, and in addition, they are running out of service. All of this pushes the Indian naval commanders to start searching for replacements for old equipment.
According to Indian media, the Ministry of Defense has already sent requests to the leading helicopter companies. Thus, all the best world organizations can participate in the record competition, from the American Sikorsky to the European Eurocopter. In addition, it appears that Russian helicopters from Mil and Kamov will also exhibit their projects. A few months ago, Russian officials involved in arms exports confirmed the possibility of participating in the competition, but have not yet received an official invitation.
Of course, six billion dollars is too large a sum to ignore the tender. Therefore, it is unlikely that Rosoboronexport and Russian Helicopters will not apply for it. Already, it is possible to make certain assumptions about possible “contestants” from the Russian side. First of all, these are the Kamov Ka-27 and Ka-29 helicopters. In addition, the Ka-31 may be offered to Indians as a long-range radar patrol helicopter. An additional argument in favor of the Russian helicopters may be the fact that, until now, about ten Ka-28, which are an export modification of the Ka-27, are being used in the Indian naval forces. Thus, Indian sea pilots already have a general idea of Russian technology and can draw appropriate conclusions.
Nevertheless, a single operating experience will not be enough. For such a large contract, all the leading helicopter-building companies will fight, and they will most likely present the latest developments to the tender. The competition will be fierce and any trifle can affect the final result of the tender, up to and including advertising campaigns. In the latter sphere, as experts and just attentive fans of military affairs point out, our manufacturers traditionally lag behind foreign ones. So, domestic decision makers should pay attention to this part of the promotion of their equipment. Perhaps it is precisely such actions that will allow to avoid unpleasant incidents like the recent loss of heavy transport Mi-26Т2, which, being a clear favorite, ultimately gave way to a less heavy-duty American-made helicopter.
And yet, so far, all information about the upcoming competition has not yet received confirmation from official Indian officials. After the official announcement of the tender, details regarding the financial side of the case, the list of participants, etc. will be received. At the same time, the very fact of the upcoming tender is hardly doubtful. The fact is that Sea King helicopters in India are already outdated and their replacement is only a matter of time. In addition, it is known that the Indian navy will receive a relatively large number of new warships in the coming years, a large part of which will be equipped with helicopters. It is unlikely that Indian military leaders will equip new ships with old aviation technique.
It is worth noting that in the light of recent events, the prospects for Russian helicopters look ambiguous. On the one hand, the total amount of all military-technical contracts between Russia and India has long passed the mark of ten billion dollars, and there is no reason to assume that purchases of Russian weapons and military equipment will stop. On the other hand, India with all its actions clearly shows that it is not going to buy weapon and technology in only one country and, in a certain sense, to bind oneself.
Therefore, the most plausible option for the development of further military-technical relations between Russia and India is the continuation of purchases of various weapons, but with a number of reservations. Russian defense companies will continue to receive lucrative contracts, and the volume of the latter is likely to grow. At the same time, our enterprises will receive far from all orders, which is due to new Indian views on the import of military equipment. Time will tell whether the upcoming six billionth contract will be the “heritage” of Russian helicopter builders. But even if this order goes to a foreign company, domestic arms manufacturers can count on another contract, even if it is a smaller one.
On the materials of the sites:
http://lenta.ru/
http://indianexpress.com/
http://gazeta.ru/
http://rus.ruvr.ru/
As it became known a little less than a year ago, the main goal of the contract will be to replace the old Sikorsky SH-3 Sea King and Westland WS-61 Sea King helicopters. The newest of these helicopters were delivered back in the eighties of the last century and since then have only been repaired, but not modernized. These American and British-made helicopters currently perform a wide range of tasks, from transport to anti-submarine. The capabilities of Sea King helicopters are no longer sufficient to carry out combat operations in modern conditions, and in addition, they are running out of service. All of this pushes the Indian naval commanders to start searching for replacements for old equipment.
Sikorsky SH-3 Sea King
Westland WS-61 Sea King
According to Indian media, the Ministry of Defense has already sent requests to the leading helicopter companies. Thus, all the best world organizations can participate in the record competition, from the American Sikorsky to the European Eurocopter. In addition, it appears that Russian helicopters from Mil and Kamov will also exhibit their projects. A few months ago, Russian officials involved in arms exports confirmed the possibility of participating in the competition, but have not yet received an official invitation.
Of course, six billion dollars is too large a sum to ignore the tender. Therefore, it is unlikely that Rosoboronexport and Russian Helicopters will not apply for it. Already, it is possible to make certain assumptions about possible “contestants” from the Russian side. First of all, these are the Kamov Ka-27 and Ka-29 helicopters. In addition, the Ka-31 may be offered to Indians as a long-range radar patrol helicopter. An additional argument in favor of the Russian helicopters may be the fact that, until now, about ten Ka-28, which are an export modification of the Ka-27, are being used in the Indian naval forces. Thus, Indian sea pilots already have a general idea of Russian technology and can draw appropriate conclusions.
Ka-27, Ka-29 and Ka-31
Nevertheless, a single operating experience will not be enough. For such a large contract, all the leading helicopter-building companies will fight, and they will most likely present the latest developments to the tender. The competition will be fierce and any trifle can affect the final result of the tender, up to and including advertising campaigns. In the latter sphere, as experts and just attentive fans of military affairs point out, our manufacturers traditionally lag behind foreign ones. So, domestic decision makers should pay attention to this part of the promotion of their equipment. Perhaps it is precisely such actions that will allow to avoid unpleasant incidents like the recent loss of heavy transport Mi-26Т2, which, being a clear favorite, ultimately gave way to a less heavy-duty American-made helicopter.
And yet, so far, all information about the upcoming competition has not yet received confirmation from official Indian officials. After the official announcement of the tender, details regarding the financial side of the case, the list of participants, etc. will be received. At the same time, the very fact of the upcoming tender is hardly doubtful. The fact is that Sea King helicopters in India are already outdated and their replacement is only a matter of time. In addition, it is known that the Indian navy will receive a relatively large number of new warships in the coming years, a large part of which will be equipped with helicopters. It is unlikely that Indian military leaders will equip new ships with old aviation technique.
It is worth noting that in the light of recent events, the prospects for Russian helicopters look ambiguous. On the one hand, the total amount of all military-technical contracts between Russia and India has long passed the mark of ten billion dollars, and there is no reason to assume that purchases of Russian weapons and military equipment will stop. On the other hand, India with all its actions clearly shows that it is not going to buy weapon and technology in only one country and, in a certain sense, to bind oneself.
Therefore, the most plausible option for the development of further military-technical relations between Russia and India is the continuation of purchases of various weapons, but with a number of reservations. Russian defense companies will continue to receive lucrative contracts, and the volume of the latter is likely to grow. At the same time, our enterprises will receive far from all orders, which is due to new Indian views on the import of military equipment. Time will tell whether the upcoming six billionth contract will be the “heritage” of Russian helicopter builders. But even if this order goes to a foreign company, domestic arms manufacturers can count on another contract, even if it is a smaller one.
On the materials of the sites:
http://lenta.ru/
http://indianexpress.com/
http://gazeta.ru/
http://rus.ruvr.ru/
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