India seeks 200 copters to replace ageing Cheetah & Chetak fleet | India News

NEW DELHI: India has as soon as once more resumed the hunt to replace its previous single-engine Cheetah and Chetak helicopters, which lack trendy avionics, in-built security mechanisms and have been dogged by a excessive crash price identical to the MiG-21 fighters, inflicting the loss of life of scores of pilots over time.The Army on Friday issued a request for data (RFI) to distributors for the acquisition of 120 reconnaissance and surveillance helicopters (RSHs) and one other 80 for the IAF. “The defence ministry intends to urgently replace the fleet of existing Cheetah and Chetak helicopters with suitable light helicopters of modern design,” the RFI stated.The RSHs ought to give you the chance to carry out surveillance by day and evening, transport small quantity troops for particular missions, carry inside and exterior masses in assist of floor operations and carry out a “scout role” along side assault helicopters, the RFI added.The armed forces have been demanding new mild helicopters to replace their round 350 Cheetah and Chetak choppers, that are of the design classic of the Nineteen Sixties, for effectively over 20 years now. They have sounded the alarm a number of occasions however to no avail until now, as reported by TOI earlier.