With winter trials and maintenance evaluation trials (METs) done, India’s $600-million Reconnaisance & Surveillance Helicopter (RSH) competition enters the third phase next week, involving summer trials. The three helicopters involved in the trials — the Eurocopter Fennec (See photo from Leh trials in February), the AgustaWestland AW119 and the Kamov Ka-226T. The summer trials are to be completed by June. Eurocopter goes first, followed by Kamov. Word is the AW119 has been eliminated in the inter-trial down-select since the AW119 Koala is a civilian helicopter.
Shiv, there was a report just recently that there was a very good chance that even this new trial would be cancelled as the Fennec was unable to meet some requirement (mentioned the Hover In-Ground Effect at high altitude as being the problem)..Is there any truth to such reports or are the trials going on without any hiccups ?
If capabilities were the only consideration the Kamov Ka-226T would win hands down.
Compared to the competition, it flies higher, carries a greater payload, has longer range and can hover at higher altitudes. Also, it is the most unique design amongst the three.
But if the Kamov wins this would be its first big order. India should modify the Ka-226 a little bit to reduce its empty weight and add a few bells and whistles to make it the ultimate utility helicopter for hot and high conditions.
Shiv…….heard that AW119 is No 1 ???? and going to get the deal ?? (Tata+AW JV at Hyd will assemble)……………….
hiiiiiii shivvvv what's up,,,,,,
y the su-30 image don't have any conards…………………..
shiv y we r inviting foreign companies for the competition,,,,,,,,can't army and iaf use ALH-DHRUV…………even dhruv can be used for reconnaisance and survelience………….
Can anyone tell me how many Dhruv's have crashed?
@karthik Army and MoD officials say that the trials are vry much on track. Wonder where that article came from. Infact,it has a lot of factual errors.. for one, Agusta has been disqualified plus HOGE is Eurocopter's biggest strengths. Dont know much about the Russia bit though.