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The Ministry of Defence has issued a Request for Information (RFI) to procure three Ultra Heavy Lift Helicopters (UHLHs) for the Indian Air Force (IAF) on a damp lease basis for an initial period of two years, with an option to purchase them at the end of the lease term.

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The damp lease, also known as “wet lease” is an arrangement that includes the aircraft along with maintenance crew and technical support from the vendor.

The move would help in plugging a critical gap in the Indian Air Force’s heavy airlift capabilities, particularly for high-altitude logistics, disaster relief and large-scale troop deployment operations along the borders with Pakistan and China.

As per the RFI, the vendors must demonstrate an internal or external payload capacity of at least 20,000 kg, with a maximum cruise speed exceeding 230 km/h.

The helicopters must be capable of operating at altitudes of 5,500 metres or above, making them suitable for deployment across the Himalayan terrain. It should have a capacity to carry a minimum of 45 troops or accommodating 20 stretchers for casualty evacuation roles.

The platform must also be equipped with day and night visual monitoring systems for underslung loads.

The RFI further stated that the vendors are expected to guarantee an availability rate of 95%.

Besides, the aircraft must be fitted with a Radar Warning Receiver (RWR) and Missile Approach Warning System (MAWS) for threat detection and display, along with a Counter Measure Dispensing System (CMDS).

Critically, the CMDS must be integrated with both the RWR and MAWS to enable automatic or semi-automatic dispensation of countermeasures, providing survivability in contested airspace.

As far as the delivery timeline is concerned, the vendor has to deliver the helicopters within 3-6 months of contract signing.

In Indian context, the Boeing CH-47 Chinook, already in service with the IAF in a medium-lift variant, and the Russian-origin Mil Mi-26 would be the main contenders for the competition.

The Mi-26 has previously operated with the IAF, giving it a legacy advantage, while the Chinook brings NATO-standard interoperability and proven reliability.