India gives green light for Do 228 upgrade and light helicopter procurement
India currently has 87 Do 228 aircraft according to Shephard Defence Insight. HAL will begin to upgrade the maritime patrol platform for the IN. (Photo: Gordon Arthur)
Hindustan Aeronautics will upgrade Indian maritime patrol aircraft and provide LUH rotary-wing platforms.
The Indian Defence Acquisition Council has approved an MLU for Indian Navy (IN) Dornier Do 228 maritime patrol aircraft.
These aircraft had been built by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), which will also be responsible for the upgrade.
Shephard Defence Insight notes that 87 Do 228s are in service in India.
In September, the IN transferred one Do 228 to the Mauritius Police Force on temporary loan as it awaits its own new-build aircraft. Mauritius now has four such aircraft.
One other important approval by the Defence Acquisition Council in early November was for 12 Light Utility Helicopters (LUH) to be procured from HAL. Ordering a dozen helicopters initially will not help tremendously, as the Indian military requires something like 187 of them to replace elderly platforms.
Related Equipment in Defence Insight
More from Air Warfare
-
![StormShroud enters service with UK RAF to suppress enemy air defences]()
StormShroud enters service with UK RAF to suppress enemy air defences
StormShroud is designed to support UK Royal Air Force (RAF) Lockheed Martin F-35B and Eurofighter Typhoon fighter aircraft by providing suppression of enemy air defences (SEAD). It is built around the Tekever AR3 uncrewed aerial system (UAS) and Leonardo BriteStorm electronic warfare (EW) jammer payload.
-
![Ground tests for CCA programme underway with flight tests to start mid-2025, says USAF]()
Ground tests for CCA programme underway with flight tests to start mid-2025, says USAF
The ground test phase for the Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) programme will bridge the gap between prototype design and flight, laying essential groundwork ahead of fielding the uncrewed aircraft.
-
![Northrop Grumman’s completes flight tests of new EW system for F-16s]()
Northrop Grumman’s completes flight tests of new EW system for F-16s
The two aircraft flew more than 70 sorties in seven months and tested the system in various conditions and mission scenarios.
-
![F-15EX and shipbuilding win big in proposed $150 billion US defence funding boost]()
F-15EX and shipbuilding win big in proposed $150 billion US defence funding boost
The legislation outlined additional budget to enhance air, land and naval platforms, including next-generation air and uncrewed naval programmes.
-
![Poland approved for another buy of AMRAAMs under $1.3 billion deal]()
Poland approved for another buy of AMRAAMs under $1.3 billion deal
The deal is for 400 AIM-120D-3 Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air Missiles (AMRAAM). It increases the stocks the country already has and follows a US$1.7 billion order for 745 missiles approved in March last year.
