Philip wrote:Def.Ind. news report just in.Indig. content of KA-226 LUH is 33% going up in stages.60 to be bought outright with varying indig.% and 140 built at home.Total 200.The req. was for 40%.indig. content which was holding up finalisation.The IA is seeking a waiver for the initial batch as the req. is extremely urgent,delayed for years.Req. overall for LUH types at least 400.
Whatever LUHs we build ,and the naval req. of 100+ is also a critical one as both IA and IN have been using All-3 desi variants,Chetak,Cheetah,etc. for decades,must be built at speed and high ROPs. At least 16 to 24 helos built/yr. A second line could also be set up with pvt. industry (Tatas make cabins for Sikorsky) to uncrease annual production if HAL is full with orders for ALHs,LCHs,LUHs,KA-226s and their variants,plus development of the med. multirole helo. Great opportunity for helo exports of every type.
The HAL MD does not sound at all enthused about the prospects of any deal. I think the ARMY may have a tough time convincing the MOD for pushing the deal through. The original decision to split the buy was taken at a time when the LUH was on the CAD screen. Now it is a proven product. We can use our Russian credits for other more needed weapon system.
https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/ka-226t-utility-chopper-has-33-indigenous-content-hal/article33769304.eceThe total indigenous content of the Ka-226T utility helicopters, to be jointly manufactured locally by India and Russia with Transfer of Technology (ToT), is between 27%-33%, said Chairman and Managing Director of Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) R. Madhavan. The final deal is held up as the Russian proposal of 62% indigenous content in assembled helicopters falls short of the tender requirement of 70%,“In Ka-226T when we talk of 70% indigenous content, it is not the same as the Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) 52%. The 70% is of the Russian content. Engine from Safran and avionics from other countries are not accounted for in this. Balance is what we are looking and from there 70% is taken. Taking the whole helicopter, the indigenous content is about 27-33%,” he said in response to a question from The Hindu at Aero India.
His speech starts about an hour into the program 
