Mi-17 to get advanced navigation system

Vijay Mohan

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, November 26

The Indian Air Force has approached Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) for retrofitting part of its Soviet-origin Mi-17 medium lift helicopter fleet with advanced navigational aids.

Under the project, to be executed at No.3 Base Repair Depot in Chandigarh, nearly 60 helicopters will be retrofitted with the Tactical Air Navigation System (TACAN) as well as the VHF Omni-directional Radio Range (VOR) equipment and instrument landing system, IAF sources said.

HAL has traditionally been associated with the licence manufacture and repair of western-origin helicopters such as the French Alouette III and the SA-315 Lama, known locally as Chetak and Cheetah, as well as the Dhruv, advanced light helicopter and the proposed Indian Multi-Role Helicopter that envisions to replace older Mi-17 variants in a few years. HAL is not known to have been associated earlier with modifications or upgrades related to Mi-8/17 and Mi-25/35 fleet.

TACAN provides the aircrew the exact bearing and distance to a ground station and is primarily meant for military aircraft. Equipped aircraft can use this system for route navigation as well as non-precision approaches to landing fields.

On ground, TACAN receivers can be placed on top of a building or in a truck. It is a smaller and more accurate version of VOR that is now the standard air navigational system in the world where aircraft determine their position and stay on course by receiving radio signals transmitted by a network of fixed ground radio beacons.

Besides supplying the navigation equipment along with associated accessories and technical support, HAL will also be required to train IAF personnel in the operation and maintenance of the equipment in Chandigarh.

Sources said that the project is expected to commence in January 2018, with three helicopters being initially retrofitted and evaluated by the IAF. The remaining choppers will be upgraded in batches within two years.