Page 30 - ADT APRIL 2022 Online Magazine

tonne class, that is expected to enter service
in 2025.

HAL has built approximately 600 helicop- [ AIR ]
ters under license from France across the
SA316 Alouette III (Chetak) and SA315B Lama
(Cheetah). HAL has gone on to produce greater
numbers of these helicopters, than any of the
other licensee’s for the iconic type. It delivered
the first Chetak helicopter manufactured at its
Bengaluru factory (then known as Bangalore)
in 1965.
Rotarywing Derivatives

In addition to the Chetak. (Alouette III), the
Indian armed forces still operate significant
numbers of the Cheetah (Alouette II), which
Icon was specifically designed for high-altitude
operations and combined an Alouette II air-
frame with the Alouette III’s powerplant and
rotor system. HAL delivered the first Cheetah
built from raw materials in 1976-77. HAL went
to develop two variants of the Cheetah helicop-
ter – a light attack variant (Lancer) and a more
INDIAN CHETAK HELICOPTER FLEET powerful re-engined variant (Cheetal).
COMPLETES SIX DECADES OF OPERATIONS
The Lancer was fitted with a single jettison-
Atul Chandra able combination weapons pod on either side
carrying one 12.7 mm gun and three 70 mm
rockets, each. It was designed primarily for
India’s fleet of Cheetah helicopters, which were first inducted into anti-insurgency operations, close air support,
the Indian Air Force (IAF) in 1962, have completed six decades of suppression of enemy fire, attack on vehicular
service and are all set to serve for at least another decade. The convoys, destruction of enemy machine gun
Cheetah is the name given to the Indian license produced version positions and anti-armour applications.
of the French SA 316 Alouette III, built by state-owned airframer
Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL).

HAL commenced license production of the Chetak in 1965 and
during an event organised in March, to commemorate the 60th
anniversary of the Chetak helicopter, India’s Defence Minister
Rajnath Singh, highlighted the stellar performance of the fleet in
both, peace and in conflict. The Chetak helicopter has participated
in nearly every major military operation, both in peacetime and war,
since its induction in 1962, including operations on the inhospitable
Siachen glacier.

Replacement Overdue
The Chetak helicopter fleet has performed yeoman service with the HAL has also re-engined the Cheetah helicopter
Indian armed forces, however, a replacement for this helicopter has to come up with the Cheetal. HAL initiated the
been delayed by at least a decade, if not more. Despite their age Cheetal project in 2002 as a mid-life upgrade
and rudimentary avionics, Chetak helicopters are in widespread use to the Cheetah and deliver an upgraded plat-
across the army, navy and air force and remain the basic training form with enhanced high altitude operational
helicopter for rotarywing pilots of the armed forces. capabilities and maintainability. The Cheetah’s
obsolete Artouste-IIIB engine was replaced
India has now finalised the indigenously developed Light Utility with a modern fuel efficient TM333–2M2
Helicopter (LUH), which will be built by HAL at a brand new heli- engine with FADEC for better performance and
copter factory near Tumkur, located in the southern Indian state an automatic Backup Engine Control system
of Karnataka. The LUH is a single-engine light helicopter in the 3 (EBCB) was also installed.

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