Will achieve 70% localisation of Kamov copters: IRHL CEO

Ajay Banerjee

Tribune News Service

Lucknow, February 6

India aims to achieve the target of 70 per cent local content by the time the last of the Russian-origin Kamov 226T helicopter is delivered, said MN Shrinath, Chief Executive Officer of the Indo-Russian Helicopters Limited (IRHL). The IRHL is a joint venture between India and Russia.

“The first batch of helicopters will come out of our production facility at Tumkur in Karnataka by 2025 if everything goes as per plan,” Srinath added.

The Defence Acquisition Council of the Ministry of Defence was expected to give a go-ahead to the signing of a formal contract.

The Russian Helicopters Holding Company (part of Rostec State Corporation) today signed a roadmap with the IRHL for localisation of Ka-226T helicopter production in India. The contract was signed at DefExpo 2020 here.

The document defines the main stages and terms for organising production of Ka-226T helicopter and its units in India with respect to the date when the corresponding contract will be signed.

The roadmap reflects timelines for setting up production facility in India, contracting with suppliers, transferring design documentation, supplying technological equipment and machine kits, training Indian personnel and other key stages of the project to localise production of Ka-226T.

“The roadmap signed today will be the basis for further development of Ka-226T localisation project in India after the signing of the contract,” said Andrei Boginsky, Director General of Russian Helicopters holding company.

Shrinath said the copter had two sources of parts — Russian origin and western origin. Around 74 per cent of the copter is of Russian parentage. Its engine is from Safran France.

“For the 140 copters to be made in India, the Russian part of the content will be indigenised in phases. We will have 70 per cent local content in place of Russian components by the end of phase IV of production. This will include the technology for rotors,” he said in answer to a question.

Indo-Russian Helicopters Limited is a joint venture of Russian Helicopters, Rosoboronexport and the HAL. The company was registered in India in May 2017 as part of a project to localise production of Ka-226T helicopters.