Between the Defence Services and Para military forces of India, there is a massive requirement of up to one thousand rotorcraft to be fulfilled in the decade ahead, perhaps the largest such market outside the United States.

The largest number of these will be the light utility helicopter (LUH), primarily to meet urgent needs of the Indian Army and the Air Force, as replacement of the ageing HAL-built Chetak (Alouette III) and Chetak (Lama). The global tender for 197 LUHs was re-issued in 2008 after the earlier RFP was withdrawn following “allegations” made by Bell Helicopters, whose 407 Shen had lost out to Eurocopter’s AS550C3 Fennec.

Alongside, the Government directed HAL to begin design and development of an indigenous Light Observation Helicopter (LOH) with strict deadlines to be met. Should the HAL LOH be cleared as a programme, some 187 such helicopters will be ordered.

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