Three Army Officers Escape Helicopter Crash in Leh
In a remarkable turn of events, three army officers narrowly escaped injury when their Cheetah helicopter went down in the rugged Tangste region near Leh. This incident, which took place on Wednesday, was reported on Friday.
The helicopter was piloted by a lieutenant colonel and a major, while Major General Sachin Mehta, the General Officer Commanding of the 3 Infantry Division, was a passenger. Fortunately, all three men walked away with just minor injuries. Officials have described their survival as nothing short of miraculous and have launched an investigation to understand what led to the crash.
In light of this incident, officials have revealed that the Indian Army is planning to phase out its old fleet of Cheetah and Chetak helicopters over the next couple of years. They aim to replace these aging aircraft with new light utility helicopters in a modernization effort that will span the next eight to ten years.
The army’s replacement strategy includes sourcing locally produced helicopters while also leasing similar models to address immediate needs. Overall, the army requires approximately 250 new helicopters.
Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), responsible for the maintenance of 625 previously produced Cheetah and Chetak helicopters, is no longer manufacturing them. HAL originally signed an agreement with the French aerospace company Aerospatiale in 1970 to produce the Cheetahs. They had previously teamed up with another French firm, Sud-Aviation, to manufacture the Chetaks.
HAL is optimistic about future orders, expecting the army and the Indian Air Force to place combined orders for at least 187 light helicopters. The army has already ordered six limited series production units, featuring impressive specifications including a top speed of 220 km/h, a service ceiling of 6.5 km, and an operational range of 350 km.
Currently, the Cheetah and Chetak helicopters are essential for supporting troops stationed in high-altitude areas, including the Siachen glacier. However, a series of crashes, totaling over 15 in the last decade, has raised concerns about the safety of these helicopters, resulting in the loss of several pilots.
Officials assure that the existing fleet remains airworthy and has several years of operational life left.
