It will follow a two-pronged replacement approach, induct locally produced light utility helicopters (LUH) and lease similar choppers as a stopgap to meet critical requirements, said one of the officials on condition of anonymity. The army needs around 250 new helicopters.
"We will order around 100 LUHS from Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL). Given the production capacity of HAL, we must look at alternative means to replace the entire fleet. Leasing some helicopters for a few years is an option, and then we can go back to HAL for the remaining numbers," the official said.
The design of the single-engine Cheetah and Chetak helicopters is almost six decades old, and their airworthiness has been questioned after a string of mishaps in recent years.
Around 15 Cheetahs and Chetaks have crashed during the last 10 years, killing several pilots.
This story is from the {{IssueName}} edition of {{MagazineName}}.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the {{IssueName}} edition of {{MagazineName}}.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
Indian Idol ki Star Kalakar Sneha Shankar leaves everyone teary-eyed with her soulful performance
SNEHA SHANKAR'S JOURNEY ON INDIAN IDOL BEGAN WITH HER WINNING THE COVETED PLATINUM MIC
Irish-Persian vlogger refutes Delhi's 'Dirty' reputation in viral post
Irish-Persian Instagram vlogger, Sean Hammond, has gone viral with a post defending Delhi against claims that the city is \"dirty and dangerous.\"
Gems from a Guru, who transformed the Gram
One who points his finger not to the world but the heaven to say that \"someone is taking care\" ought to be god-fearing. But if the person adds that he's \"doing his bit here (on earth)\" then he's certainly a karmayogi.
KNITWEAR RENAISSANCE
As temperatures drop, step up your knitwear game. From playful patterns to exaggerated silhouettes, there's a 'fit for every mood and occasion
Thela lagane ke din aa gaye thhe: Rajesh on acting hiatus
It is a year of milestones for Rajesh Kumar. As the actor clocks in 25 years of his acting career, his popular show Sarabhai vs Sarabhai recently marked its 20th anniversary.
I am either winning or learning, nothing is a failure for me
One hardly expects an established actor to go back to school and live the student life, but Harshvardhan Rane never liked adhering to the norms. On International Students' Day today, he tells us, \"My biggest strength is that I don't have the 'log' of 'log kya kahenge' in my life.\"
SANA SULTAN CALLS HER NIKAAH AT MADINAH 'DIVINE INTERVENTION'
One day, I said 'Wazid ji, can we have our nikaah in Madinah?' He said, 'Isse behtar kuch ho hi nahin sakta'. SANA SULTAN, Actor
I'll be watching Karan Arjun with my son, says Aasif Sheikh
With his 1995 hit Karan Arjun set to be re-released on November 22, Aasif Sheikh is on cloud nine.
I would love to work on Chammak Challo 2.0: Akon
Akon's connection to India and Bollywood runs deep. As we sit down for a tête-à-tête with the Senegalese-American singer on Friday at the Cherry Blossom Music Festival in Shillong, he reveals he's ready to make his \"Bollywood comeback.\"
'I HAVE SIGNED UP WITH AN AGENCY IN LONDON'
Parineeti Chopra talks about expanding her artistic horizons in the UK
