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Sunday, Jun 18, 2006

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Russian firm to overhaul Indian copters

Special Correspondent

Defence Ministry approves servicing of Russian-origin fleet

NEW DELHI: The Defence Ministry has approved the overhauling of the armed forces' Russian origin helicopter fleet by a Russian Government-controlled company, which has already completed a couple of projects for naval ships.

Initially, overhauling of helicopter navigation and radar systems, engine control mechanisms and other electronic controls will be taken up. Engines will be overhauled in future.

The company, Rosoboronservice (India), has been especially created to service Indian military assets through a special decree issued by President Vladimir Putin.

Difficulty in getting spares

Sources said that after the break-up of the Soviet Union, the Indian armed forces were put to difficulty in procuring spares as companies were located in different countries. Some firms stopped manufacturing spares for older military platforms, leading to the Indian armed forces cannibalising spares from grounded planes.

The issue was raised several times at the annual meetings between the Russian President and the Indian Prime Minister. Since then, the situation has improved but uncertainty remains.

The initiative to overhaul Soviet/Russian origin equipment was taken after Moscow realised that if the after-sales servicing record continued to be poor, future orders for military equipment could go to other countries. The offer to service the Indian fleet was helped by the integration of all Russian helicopter companies under Oberonprom. Rosoboronservice (India) has entered into a contract with this company for its India operations.

The helicopters planned to be overhauled in India include the Kamov 25, 28, and 31 series with the Navy; Mi 8, 17, 26 with the Air Force; and the Army's Mi series. The plant to service the Kamov series will be set up in Goa — the heart of the Navy's aviation operations — since the Navy owns most of the choppers of this type.

Another plant will be set up in central India to take care of the Mi series.

There are between 350 and 400 Russian-origin helicopters in service with the Indian armed forces. Of these about 50 are Kamov variants and the rest belong to the Mi series.

To address security concerns, Rosoboronservice (India) staff consist primarily of ex-servicemen who handled and maintained this equipment during their tenure with the Indian armed forces.

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