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Coast Guard to get 30 new helicopters

angeldemon_007

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New Delhi, Jan 31 (PTI) To augment the Indian CoastGuard''s capabilities, the government has given its nod forprocuring 30 new medium and heavy-lift helicopters for themaritime security force.

In addition to the 30 choppers, four new indigenouslymade Dhruv Advanced Light Helicopters (ALHs) and eightsurveillance helicopters will be acquired by the force. Thesurveillance choppers will be leased from foreign companies.

"The Government has sanctioned 30 more new helicoptersand that acquisition process is on...The choppers will beacquired through a global tender by us in next four-fiveyears," ICG Director General Vice Admiral Anil Chopra saidhere today.

Of the 30 helicopters, 16 would be medium-lift classand the remaining would in the heavy-lift category, ICGofficials said here.

On the problems faced by the ICG in leasing choppers,Chopra said, "For the first time, the Defence ministry isleasing helicopters. There are many areas where there arelegalities involved in leasing the choppers. They are beinglooked at carefully and, therefore, the process is taking alittle longer than normal but is very much on way."

On the induction of other new choppers in the service,he said the force will receive one ALH by March along withfour Dorniers planes, which are set to join it by April thisyear.

Chopra said the surveillance capabilities of theexisting fleet of 24 Dorniers is also undergoing upgrades andis being equipped with advanced radars, automatedidentification systems and infra-red sensors.

Under its expansion plans, the ICG is looking to havea fleet of 100 aircraft by the year 2020.
 
Coast Guard to issue medium lift chopper tender next in January

The Indian Coast Guard will issue a global tender in January for procuring 14 medium-lift choppers in which the Request for Proposal (RFP) will be received by firms including Eurocopter, Sikorsky and Agusta Westland.

"We are planning to issue tenders for 14 shore-based helicopters for maritime surveillance and search and rescue operations in January,” Coast Guard sources told to Defencenow.com.

The helicopters would be above medium-weight class and the twin engines on them would help in providing additional safety to the air crew while operating over the sea, they said.

Eurocopter is planning to offer its EC 725 chopper whereas Sikorsky is learnt to considering its black hawk platform for the bid.

On the specifications of the choppers, officials said they should have a minimum range of 200 nautical miles and be capable of providing 360 degree surveillance, detection and reconnaissance. They should be able to carry out operations both day and night.

The Coast Guard is also planning to have data link capabilities in the choppers so that data can be exchanged between the different aerial assets in air and the shore and ship-based command centres.

The choppers will also be equipped with light and medium machine guns, they said.

Coast guard, which has a fleet of Cheetah/Chetak and ALH Dhruv helicopters, is strengthening its rotary wing aerial surveillance capabilities after the Mumbai attacks and is in the process of acquiring several light and medium weight surveillance choppers.

Most of the new acquisitions are part of government’s efforts to strengthen the presence and capabilities of the Coast Guard in coastal areas and to prevent terrorists from using sea routes to attack cities.
 
was wondering how these were the only guys not getting any modern equipment . good to hear they are not far behind.
 
there is any possibility that the new chopper will be use for ASW role also. ???

As long as the W in ASW stands for warfare, no. Warfare is the exclusive domain of the army, navy and air force. The coast guard does exactly that - guarding the coast. Their mandate is to intercept smugglers, law enforcement on the seas etc. Going sub hunting is waaay out of their league. That would be like a police force carrying anti tank guided missiles.
 

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