Indian Army to get Night-Vision Goggles for Helicopters Pilots

The Army is now hunting for advanced night-vision goggles (NVGs) for its pilots flying helicopters like Cheetahs, Chetaks and Dhruv advanced light helicopters to ensure they can operate effectively after sunset. The RFI (request for information), floated by the directorate general of weapons and equipment on Tuesday, says that the NVGs for Army Aviation Corps must be capable of "operating in low ambient light conditions''.

Seeking specific technical parameters of the NVGs on offer, the Army wants the armanent companies to submit their responses by February 4. IAF, incidentally, already operates quite a large number of helicopters with night-vision capabilities. AAC, on its part, is now going in for a major expansion, having projected `concrete' requirements for the 11th (2007-2012), 12th and 13th five-year plans. In the long-term, the Army even wants to operate its own attack helicopters and fixed-wing aircraft, which of course has not gone down too well in IAF.

India, for instance, has sought bids from six foreign firms to supply 197 "light utility and observation'' helicopters (LUHs), in a Rs 3,000 crore project, to service Siachen, Kargil and other high-altitude areas. Another 187 such choppers will be manufactured by Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL) by 2016-2017 to fulfil the overall requirement of 384 LUHs for Army (259) and IAF (125) to replace the ageing Cheetah and Chetak fleets. The Army has also signed contracts with HAL to acquire 145 Dhruv ALHs for Rs 11,237 crore.

While IAF will continue to have its `strategic role', the Army wants its own air force for `tactical' roles. As per plans, AAC wants to have a mix of reconnaissance, utility, tactical battle-support, armed and attack helicopters as well as tactical airlift fixed-wing aircraft.

Posted in: Helicopter,India