The IAF's helicopter fleet has steadily increased in numbers over the past twenty years, blossoming from a handfull of U.S. types in the '60s to over 500 French, Indian and Soviet built types. The pride of the force is, undoubtedly, the Mi-26 heavy lift helicopter which has been operated by No. 126 H.U. with outstanding results in the mountains of Northern India. The bulk of rotorcraft are Mi-17s and Mi-8s, well over one hundred of these types serving in Helicopter Units throughout the country, playing a vital logistic support role. Mi-8s are operated for commando assault tasks, for ferrying supplies and personnel to remote mountain helipads and jungle clearings, carrying out SAR (Search and Research Operations) and logistic support tasks in the island territories, employed with the Indian permanent station in the Antarctica and so on.
The helicopter fleet consisted of HAL manufactured Cheetah and Chetak helicopters, the indigenous Dhruv ALH, Mi-8, Mi-17 and heavy lift Mi-26 helicopters. Air Force helicopters were also being used to provide air maintenance and communication service in support of the Indian Army in the inhospitable and difficult terrain of the North-East and the highest battlefield in the world, the Siachen Glacier. In addition, IAF helicopters provide communication, search, rescue and relief services to civil agencies. Specially modified Mi-8 helicopters have operated in the Antarctic with the Indian permanent Research Base there. Apart from these traditional roles; the IAF has attack helicopters like Mi-25 and Mi-35 helicopters. In 2004, the IAF acquired 10 additional Mi-17IV helicopters in addition to the existing 75.
The smaller Alouette III, renamed Chetak, is as ubiquitous, being employed for casevac(Casualty Evacuation), communi- cations and liaison duties with the IAF having received over 150 examples of this versatile rotorcraft. In 1986 the Government of India formally constituted the Army's Aviation Corps and most Chetak and Cheetahs operating in AOP Squadrons were transferred from the Air Force on 1st November 1986. The Air Force continues to fly armed Chetaks in the anti-tank role as well as for CASEVAC and general duties while the lighter Cheetah is operated by (FAC) flights.
As of 2005, the HAL Chetak was scheduled to be replaced by the Dhruv ALH although as an alternative, the Chetak could be re-engined with the Turbomeca TM 333-2B engine. The Chetak was originally powered by Turbomeca's Artouste IIIB engine. The first test flight of the upgraded Chetak, dubbed "Chetan", was carried out in February 2005. According to Turbomeca, a minimum of 200 Chetak helicopters could be upgraded. A similar option exists to re-engine the HAL Cheetah to the Cheetal variant using the TM 333-2B engine as well. Over 250 Cheetahs were built under license at HAL until the late 1980s for the IAF.
Although a diminishing asset with the IAF, these helicopters serve in large numbers with the Army Aviation Corps (AAC). Both Army and IAF Cheetahs, supporting Army outposts, operate at altitudes of 24,000+ feet. An option remains to re-engine the HAL Cheetah with the Turbomeca TM 333-2B2 engine.
The latest aircraft in the IAF's helicopter fleet are a batch of 40 Mi-17 IVs. In October 2007 Defense News reported that negotiations were finalized during a defense ministers’ meeting meeting in Russia, and contracts will be signed with Rosoboronexport within the next 2 months. The $310 million worth of upgrades would be carried out on 46 Mi-8, 78 Mi-17 and 48 Mi-171V helicopters to add instrument landing system radars, very high-frequency omni-directional range radars, an advanced weather radar and a digital moving map display.
The Indian Air Force (IAF) wants to purchase 80 Mi-17 multi-utility helicopters to augment its capability for humanitarian operations, Indo-Asian News Service reported. India would buy 80 medium-lift Mi-17 helicopters from Russia for Rs 6,500 crore. The Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) approved the proposal in April 2008. The IAF, now having 50 Mi-17s, began feeling the need for more helicopters after a series of natural disasters from the December 26, 2004 tsunami, the heavy snowfall in India-controlled Kashmir to October 2005 earthquake. The helicopters also carried out rescuer work in devastating floods in various parts of the country. The Mi-17s, first developed in the mid-1980s, are deployed for tasks like ferrying troops, airdropping supplies, evacuating casualties, search and rescue, and ferrying VIPs. They can carry 15 fully equipped troops or five tons of equipment. Some have also been equipped with 57 mm rocket pods to give them attack capability.
In October 2006, the Indo-Asian News Service reported that the Indian Air Force will buy 80 medium lift multi-role Mi-17 1V helicopters from Russia for delivery in 2007-2008. The Mi-17v5 differs from the Mi-171V in having a protruding ‘dolphin’ nose rather than the glassed-in round noses other Indian Mi-17s possess and more powerful 2,200hp TV3-117VM engines. The new acquisitions will replace obsolete Mi-8s. In June 2008 Russia’s state-run Rosoboroexport hiked the price tag for the Mi-171Vs from the $650 million agreed in March 2007, to over a billion dollars.
Russia will deliver the first of the 80 Mi-171 transport helicopters to India under a recent contract by the end of 2009. The Mi-171 is an export version of the Mi-8 Hip helicopter. The contract was signed in December 2008. Some sources estimate the new deal was worth around $662 million. India already had 150 Russian-made Mi-8 and Mi-17 medium-lift helicopters deployed in at least 12 squadrons. Currently in production at two factories in Kazan and Ulan-Ude, the Mi-171 features more powerful turboshaft engines and can transport up to 37 passengers.
In May 1984, No. 125 Helicopter Unit was formed with the formidable Mi-25 gunship helicopter, used to much effect in Sri Lanka. The upgraded Mi 35 has followed in April 1990, with No. 104 HU being reequipped with the type. Future requirements for armed helicopters are planned to be met by the Light Combat Helicopter derivative of the indigenous Dhruv Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH), developed by Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd.
The indigenous development of the Army's Light Combat Helicopter came as the IAF floated international tenders for the purchase of 22 advanced helicopter gunships. Besides Eurocopter, part of the defence and aviation consortium EADS, the other major contenders for this competition are Boeing's AH-64D, Augusta Westland's AW-129 Mangustu and Russia's MI-28N NightHunters.
Air Chief Marshal (ACM) Fali Homi Major told India Strategic defence magazine in February 2008 that the Indian Air Force (IAF) was set to acquire 24 new attack helicopters and 12 heavy lift helicopters to replace and augment its Soviet-era fleets. He stated that a global Request for Proposals (RFP) for 24 state-of-the-art attack helicopters was around the corner. So was an RFP for 12 heavy lift helicopters to replace the old 20-ton Mi-26 helicopters. IAF's fleet of half-a-dozen Mi-26 heavy lift helicopters needs urgent replacement while the Mi 35 attack helicopters are being upgraded in systems to extend their useful life for some more time. Boeing Vice President Chris Chadwick then said that the company was offering both the Apache Block III as well as Chinook CH 47 heavy lift in the 20-ton category. India released the Request for Proposals (RFP) in May 2008 for 22 combat helicopters to augment its fleet of around 30 Mi-25 and Mi-35 attack helicopters. India wanted to complete the procurement of the 22 attack helicopters before May 2011. India received proposals from the Russian Kamov’s Ka-50 and Mil’s Mi-28, Italian-British AgustaWestland AW129 and French Eurocopter Tiger. Eurocopter offered its Tiger attack helicopter. But in October 2008 Bell and Boeing opted out of the Indian Air Force’s tenders for attack helicopters,
