Question : Light Utility Helicopters

(a) whether the Light Utility Helicopters (LUH) under development for the armed forces had its first outing recently and if so, the details thereof;

(b) whether with the Cheetah and Chetak helicopters ageing, the three forces are in need of LUHs for surveillance, reconnaissance, quick response, special operations and evacuations and if so, the details thereof;

(c) whether LUHs are expected to replace the entire Chetaks and Cheetahs helicopters in the defence forces; and

(d) if so, the details thereof?

MINISTER OF STATE (DR. SUBHASH BHAMRE)
IN THE MINISTRY OF DEFENCE
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(a) Yes, Madam. The first prototype of the Light Utility Helicopter (LUH), designed and developed by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), made its flight on 26th October, 2016.

(b) to (d): The Indian Armed Forces finalized the requirement of 384 Reconnaissance and Surveillance Helicopters (RSH) to succeed Cheetah and Chetak and issued a General Services Qualitative Requirement (GSQR) in the year 2008.
The Government of India accorded approval in February 2009 to go-ahead with Design and Development of LUH. A total number of 187 helicopters are planned to be indigenously manufactured by HAL.
In addition, an Inter-Governmental Agreement (IGA) has been signed between the Governments of Republic of India and the Russian Federation, in December 2015 to set up a Joint Venture for production / supply of 200 Kamov 226T helicopters.

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