Cavalier India Defence Training Academy

India will soon be sending a team to the US for induction of the MH-60 “Romeo” multi-mission helicopters, which will be a significant capability jump for the Navy in detecting and destroying enemy submarines prowling in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR).  The Navy will this year get at least three of the 24 heavy-duty helicopters, equipped with multi-mode radars and night-vision devices as well as armed with Hellfire missiles, MK-54 torpedoes and precision-kill rockets, under the Rs 15,157 crore ($2.13 billion) contract inked with the US in February 2020. The 140-warship Navy is currently grappling with just a handful of old anti-submarine warfare (ASW) helicopters like Kamov-28s and Sea Kings when the presence of Chinese nuclear and diesel-electric submarines is only going to further increase in the IOR. “All the 24 MH-60R helicopters, which will operate from frontline warships including aircraft carrier INS Vikramaditya, will be inducted by end-2023 or so. It will somewhat plug the c...

Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) on Friday delivered the three helicopters to the Indian Navy and two to the Coast Guard during the ongoing Aero India show in Bengaluru.  Indian Navy and Coast Guard received upgraded advanced light helicopters (ALH) -- the Mark III versions -- meant for costal security on Friday. Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) delivered the three helicopters to the Navy and two to the Coast Guard during the ongoing Aero India show in Bengaluru. Out of 16 Mk-III helicopters, these are the first five of the upgraded Mark III. “HAL today handed over three Advanced Light Helicopter [ALH Mk III] to Indian Navy and two ALHs to Indian Coast Guard as part of its 16 ALHs contract at the ongoing Aero India 2021,” a statement from HAL said. These are fully loaded multi-mission helicopters fitted with an array of advanced sensors. This will enhance Navy and Coast guard’s capabilities for maritime security and surveillance to prevent 26/11-like terror attacks. Features ...

With Covid-19 restrictions now being eased as the outbreak ebbs, and facing an aggressive China on the Line of Actual Control and in the Indian Ocean, the Indian armed forces are preparing to induct multiple platforms this year. Here are five platforms that are likely to enter service in 2021: L to R - Chiefs of IAF, Indian Army and Indian Navy | Representative image 1) MH 60R During US President Donald Trump’s 2019 visit to India, the two countries had signed a $2.6 billion deal for the supply of 24 MH-60R Sea Hawk helicopters to the Indian Navy. The first of these helicopters will be delivered this year. The MH-60s will replace the Indian Navy’s obsolete Sea King anti-submarine helicopters inducted in the 1970s and 80s. The Indian Navy’s MH-60s will be equipped with AGM-114 Hellfire air-to-surface missiles, the Kongsberg Naval Strike Missile with proven sea-skimming capabilities for the anti-ship role and Raytheon MK54 torpedoes. These helos will also have Advanced Precision Kill Wea...

India has decided to manufacture light choppers designed for operations in high altitudes, vital for maintaining troops through the year, following spike in border deployments. Representative Image The indigenous light utility helicopter (LUH), which has performed well in recent trials in Ladakh as well, will initially be produced in limited numbers before a larger order is placed for the Army and Air Force. With both satisfied with trial performances, the defence ministry is now processing the first order for 12 choppers, which will be followed by a larger batches to achieve a total of 187 LUHs in service. “The acceptance of necessity for the first 12 helicopters is being approved. Once the order is placed, we will be in the position to deliver all of them within 28 months as the production facilities are already in place,” R Madhavan, the chairman of Hindustan Aeronautics Limited, which has designed and developed the chopper, told ET. The indigenous light utility helicopter (LUH), ...

Immediately on receipt of information, on May 7 , Indian Army rescue columns with personnel of ITBPs too, moved on foot, traversing dangerous terrain in bad weather, to the helicopter landing site to evacuate the individuals and provide medical aid, for which a doctor of the ITBP also accompanied.                                          Image Source: IAF release    Guwahati: A combination of Indian Army and IAF helicopters and Indian Army troops were pressed into service to undertake a daring evacuation of the crew of IAF helicopters and Air Dispatch crew, stranded on the icy heights of North Sikkim due to an emergency landing of IAF helicopters in a remote and inaccessible area. P Khongsai Public Relation Officer (Defence) Guwahati stated, “Evacuation of the four IAF crew and Air Dispatch personnel from a super high altitude emergency landing site, braving snow blizzards ...

US government in a hurry to get new sub-hunting helicopters into the hands of the Indian Navy. Sailors assigned to the Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruiser USS Chancellorsville (CG 62) attach a training pallet to an MH-60R Sea Hawk helicopter from the ship's flight deck during a vertical replenishment training exercise. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Sarah Myers) To say the Pentagon is concerned about China’s military expansion would be an understatement — just ask the Indian Navy. According to a report by Paul McLeary for Breaking Defense, the US government was in such a hurry to get sub-hunting helicopters into the hands of the Indian Navy that the Americans gave up some of their own helicopters to fill a rushed delivery early next year. “This really was one of the higher priorities the [Indian] navy had, to get these aircraft delivered,” Tom Kane, director of Sikorsky’s Naval Helicopter Programs told reporters last week. “I requested that the air...