Indian Army orders HAL Cheetal helicopter
HAL has revealed that it has signed a contract with the Indian Ministry of Defence (MoD) to deliver 20 Cheetal helicopters and associated equipments to the Indian Army. The contract, announced on 22 February, is worth Rs 4.18 billion over the next four years.
This contract marks the first order for supply of Cheetal helicopters to the Indian Army, and follows the initial order received from the Indian Air Force. The multi-role aircraft is designed for missions including personnel transport, casualty evacuation, reconnaissance and aerial survey, logistic air support, rescue operations and under slung cargo loads.
The Cheetal helicopter was developed as company funded programme as a re-engined variant of the proven Cheetah helicopter that has been manufactured by HAL for over four decades. According to the company, the Cheetal helicopter is equipped with a Turbomeca TM 333-2M2 free turbine turboshaft engine which is more fuel efficient and provides higher payload capability of 90 kgs at an altitude of 6 kms. The aircraft can operate up to 7km altitude with a range of 640km and an endurance of 3.50 hours.
The Cheetal is fitted with a full authority digital engine control (FADEC) system for engine control and an Electronic Backup Control Box (EBCB) system which automatically takes over engine control in the event of FADEC failure. It also incorporates modern cockpit instruments including electrically driven artificial horizon, directional gyro, flight monitoring system, cockpit voice recorder and master flasher warning system.
More from Defence Helicopter
-
![Germany to send WS-61 Westland Sea King helicopters to Ukraine]()
Germany to send WS-61 Westland Sea King helicopters to Ukraine
Germany has committed to sending Ukraine six of its 21 retiring WS-61 Westland Sea King multirole, amphibious helicopters.
-
![Boeing secures $271 million to advance modernisation of US Special Operations' MH-47G Chinook]()
Boeing secures $271 million to advance modernisation of US Special Operations' MH-47G Chinook
Boeing has clinched a major contract modification to further its backing of the US Special Operations Command’s MH-47G Chinook aircraft modernisation effort.
-
![Dubai Airshow 2023: South Korean homegrown helicopters make international debut]()
Dubai Airshow 2023: South Korean homegrown helicopters make international debut
Two KAI helicopters, the KUH-1E utility helicopter and the Light Attack Helicopter (LAH), have taken centre stage at the Dubai Airshow 2023.
-
![Italian Navy receives final NH90 helicopter]()
Italian Navy receives final NH90 helicopter
The Italian Navy now boasts a fleet of 56 NH90 helicopters comprising 46 SH-90As and 10 MH-90As.
-
![Argentina seeks AW109 and CH-46 Sea Knight helicopters]()
Argentina seeks AW109 and CH-46 Sea Knight helicopters
The Argentinian Air Force (FAA) and the Argentinian Naval Aviation Command (COAN) are looking for options to upgrade their helicopter fleets.
-
![DSEI 2023: Lockheed to produce about 40% of Black Hawks on UK soil if it wins NMH contest]()
DSEI 2023: Lockheed to produce about 40% of Black Hawks on UK soil if it wins NMH contest
Lockheed Martin promises a boost to the British job market and export opportunities, while strengthening ties with Poland and positioning the UK for a future in rotorcraft technology in the event of a New Medium Helicopter competition triumph.
