Remember the Light Utility Helicopter (LUH) that HAL is developing to meet a partial requirement of 187 helicopters by the Indian armed forces? HAL has now floated a tender inviting bids from “reputed TurboShaft Engine Manufacturers world over who would like to offer their engine along with associated instrumentation for integration on Light Utility Helicopter (LUH).” HAL reveals that during the production phase of the LUH (2013-14), 210 engines will be procured in phases. For starters, they want two flight-cleared engines delivered for testing and prototype flights by December 2011.
Ok, now for some engine specs. HAL is looking for a turboshaft with dual channel FADEC, with an independent backup fuel-control system in the event the FADEC packs up. The engine must allow time from start-up to take-off of 5-minutes or less. The dry weight of the engine, FADEC, backup controls and accessories must not exceed 200-kg, and it must be fully tropicalised to operate in the temperature range of -35°C to 50°C and a service ceiling of 7000m.
And obviously, since HAL can’t pull it off alone, “HAL is also interested in entering into a long term business agreement with willing partners to take-up license manufacturing of engine or its parts at its facilities aimed to jointly meet the engine requirement on a global basis on mutual benefit terms. Consent for further exploration of transfer oftechnology for license manufacturing is to be indicated with sufficient details.”
It is understood that the HAL was forced to look to other engine makers after Turbomeca acted difficult on a single Shakti engine configuration plan for the LUH, charging an inordinate sum of money for testing and evaluation.
Photo by Shiv Aroor / AeroIndia 2009
Shiv can't the Shakti engine used in the Dhruv can be used for the LUH?
Why a new engine ? Cant they use the Shakti from the ALH?
We can not even produce an engine for helicopters ?
HAL…what the hell ??
Shakti will be like a 10 size hat on a 5 size head.
Shizer, COME ON. We have shakti. Use that. It will provide excellent handling characterstics, easy on the supply chain and plug and play with Dhruv should the need arise in field.
This is an RFI.
Ultimately they would integrate Shakti Engine after all the trails and evaluation process is completed.
same engine what a boring , if they select new engine only they could delay much time in this program for another 5 to 7 years .
Shakti engine has an Indian name with all imported components with some screw driver technology reluctantly given
I hope HAL will do a better job of negotiating ToT for this engine unlike its previous disasters (which were intentionally done to help foreign parties and we all know, why!)
U can't use the Shakti because Turbomeca would ask for the world to integrate it with the LUH the problem being integrating the FADEC with the LUH and customizing it, for LUH is single engined
Imagine how much faster LUH would be with a Shakti engine? The supply chain would be simpler too due to same parts for dhruv and LUH.
Thats still cheaper than working a new engine altogther. FADEC would be useful in newer versions of Dhruv as well.
Shakti is controlled by a Full Authority Digital Engine Control (FADEC) dual channel type unit.
Shakti is 205 Kgs and meets all requirements of tender. They better not be looking for anything else.
Please look at this.
http://www.easa.europa.eu/ws_prod/c/doc/Design_Appro/Engines/TCDS%20E.037%20ARDIDEN%201%20series%20Issue%2001.pdf
what happened to the engine selection after commercial evaluation?