India May Reconsider Additional Chinook CH-47F(I) Heavy-Lift Helicopter Acquisition Amidst US Strategic Partnership Discussions

India is reportedly revisiting the possibility of acquiring more CH-47F(I) Chinook heavy-lift helicopters for the Indian Air Force (IAF). This reconsideration is occurring within the context of ongoing discussions to strengthen the strategic partnership between India and the United States.

In 2015, India finalized a significant agreement with Boeing, the American aerospace manufacturer, to purchase 15 Chinook helicopters. The deal, valued at roughly $1.1 billion, included a provision allowing India to buy seven more Chinooks at the same terms.

The IAF, however, did not initially utilize this option, prioritizing other defense acquisitions due to budgetary factors. The deal was formally signed on September 28, 2015. The first Chinooks were delivered to India in February of 2019, ahead of schedule.

Recent reports indicate a potential change in India's approach. Increased dialogue between the two nations focused to enhance its defence cooperation. This forms part of a wider US strategy to build strong defense relationships, partly to provide a counterweight to China's growing regional influence.

The IAF continues to express a need for robust heavy-lift helicopter capabilities, particularly in border regions with limited infrastructure. The Chinook has a proven track record of successful operation in difficult terrains, making it a valuable asset.

Despite the operational benefits, the IAF needs to consider the purchase within its overall defense budget. A core element of any decision involves weighing the cost of additional Chinooks against other pressing modernization requirements.

The Chinook CH-47 is a twin-engine, tandem rotor heavy-lift helicopter, one of the heaviest lifting Western helicopters. It's primary roles include troop movement, artillery emplacement and battlefield resupply. It has a wide loading ramp at the rear of the fuselage and three external ventral cargo hooks.

The path to acquiring more Chinooks is not straightforward. Renegotiating the price, considering the time that has passed since the original contract, could present a major challenge.

Furthermore, the IAF must ensure that any new helicopter purchase aligns with its comprehensive modernization strategy, which includes incorporating new technologies and balancing various capabilities.

 

[sanket]

Bharat needs more Chinooks. It would be good to buy another 15 to 25 Chinooks rather than buying F-35s. Army plus Airforce should jointly place Chinook order with Pvt players, assembly locally, with further order in future with similar no. There is scope in more orders for Chinook & Apache with Army & Airforce requirements. MRO should be pushed for these choppers, including Romeo of Naval variant.

 

[Somnath Sinhababu]

India should go for extra Chinook, P-8I, etc., but not Stryker... There are enough alternatives in India for Stryker.... It will kill our local companies' morale...

 

[venkat]

They, as usual, did not exercise the option and will now have to pay 50 percent more.

 

[Anant]

Considering the kind of mountainous deployments and the like we work with, 15 Chinooks plus 3 Mi-26s have always been way too low. Moreover, given our limited heavy transport aircraft fleet (28 aircraft), this has been a major issue.

The immediate need of the hour is to increase this significantly. Maybe look to increase the heavy transport fleet to 40 aircraft and the heavy-lift helicopter fleet to 35 or so at a minimum.

 

[beencensured]

Bharat needs more Chinooks. It would be good to buy another 15 to 25 Chinooks rather than buying F-35s. Army plus Airforce should jointly place Chinook order with Pvt players, assembly locally, with further order in future with similar no. There is scope in more orders for Chinook & Apache with Army & Airforce requirements. MRO should be pushed for these choppers, including Romeo of Naval variant.

I think mi-26 are cheaper and have twice the payload.

 

[Amit Dangwal]

Considering the kind of mountainous deployments and the like we work with, 15 Chinooks plus 3 Mi-26s have always been way too low. Moreover, given our limited heavy transport aircraft fleet (28 aircraft), this has been a major issue.

The immediate need of the hour is to increase this significantly. Maybe look to increase the heavy transport fleet to 40 aircraft and the heavy-lift helicopter fleet to 35 or so at a minimum.

Those three Mi-26s aren't even maintained in flying condition.

 

[DB_NE_Guy]

Chinooks are really awesome. Even China desires to have helis with the same capability. In the future, India is likely to operate 60+ Chinooks, as nothing can replace the versatility of this bird.

 

[Frank]

Blackmailing by US

 

[Diganta Ghosh]

We need Chinooks and also there is no other option other than the US. Better to go for them. We also need Air Refuelers, Globemaster and other things.

 

[Anant]

Those three Mi-26s aren't even maintained in flying condition.

I know, but there are plans to refurbish them, hence counted them.

 

[Kira]

They, as usual, did not exercise the option and will now have to pay 50 percent more.

A very valid point, the same issue with C-17 and the issue is repeating now with Chinooks, only that the latter is thankfully still under production.

 

[Kira]

Considering the kind of mountainous deployments and the like we work with, 15 Chinooks plus 3 Mi-26s have always been way too low. Moreover, given our limited heavy transport aircraft fleet (28 aircraft), this has been a major issue.

The immediate need of the hour is to increase this significantly. Maybe look to increase the heavy transport fleet to 40 aircraft and the heavy-lift helicopter fleet to 35 or so at a minimum.

Yup, I believe the original contract had 8 additional Chinooks as a follow-on option, but since that deal condition would have lapsed by now, they will need to negotiate a whole new contract, which would naturally cost substantially more now, a decade on. India has a habit of snatching defeat from the jaws of victory when it comes to defence deals.
I believe a new contract for 15 more Chinooks should be negotiated and signed ASAP.
PS - Also, unlike other dedicated military gear, cargo aircraft serve a significant peacetime role as well, given their usage during natural disasters, etc.

 

[WarTech]

Blackmailing by US

It's good that they're forcing us. We have approx. 18 helis for heavy lift, which is very stupidly low for our requirements. If not for this force, we would have not gone to take P-8I too, for which we have dire requirement too, but as usual MoD is sitting on the files. At least we are getting them now, and filling the minimum requirement (not operational, minimum).

 

[DB_NE_Guy]

Yup, I believe the original contract had 8 additional Chinooks as a follow-on option, but since that deal condition would have lapsed by now, they will need to negotiate a whole new contract, which would naturally cost substantially more now, a decade on. India has a habit of snatching defeat from the jaws of victory when it comes to defence deals.
I believe a new contract for 15 more Chinooks should be negotiated and signed ASAP.
PS - Also, unlike other dedicated military gear, cargo aircraft serve a significant peacetime role as well, given their usage during natural disasters, etc.

Agree. We made the same blunder while ordering 36 Rafales. If we had ordered more, then all of them might have been already flying with the IAF by now. It could've strengthened the depleting squadron strength, all while reducing costs as well.

 

[DB_NE_Guy]

Considering the kind of mountainous deployments and the like we work with, 15 Chinooks plus 3 Mi-26s have always been way too low. Moreover, given our limited heavy transport aircraft fleet (28 aircraft), this has been a major issue.

The immediate need of the hour is to increase this significantly. Maybe look to increase the heavy transport fleet to 40 aircraft and the heavy-lift helicopter fleet to 35 or so at a minimum.

Those 3 Mi-26 are great but not as versatile as Chinooks. We all know Chinooks are highly capable in a very unique way.

 

[DB_NE_Guy]

They, as usual, did not exercise the option and will now have to pay 50 percent more.

Rafales, Chinook, Globemaster, Hercules, and many more... We missed the window and now it will cost us big. Time is money.