The Indian Navy is modernising its fleet of Ka-28 helicopters and has sent all ten machines to Russia for overhaul. The work is being carried out under the KV 28 MLU contract. The Indian Navy says the helicopters’ capabilities as key maritime assets will be significantly enhanced once the overhaul and modernisation is complete. This is reported by Indian Defence Research Wing publication.
The first two KV 28 helicopters repaired at the Kumertaus Aviation Production Plant (KumAPP) under the mid-life upgrade (MLU) programme were handed over to the Indian Navy in July 2023 and are currently undergoing upgrades at INS Dega naval base on India’s east coast. The first two upgraded helicopters are expected to be received by the Navy in June 2024 and the modernisation of all helicopters is expected to be completed by the end of 2025.
The modernisation under the MLU programme of Ka-28 helicopters consists of two separate phases:
– Overhaul in Russia. The helicopters are currently undergoing overhaul at Russian facilities, which will ensure their mechanical and structural integrity in the long term.
– Modernisation at INS Dega. After the overhaul, the helicopters will return to India and undergo modernisation at INS Dega, a specialised naval aviation facility in Visakhapatnam. During this modernisation phase, the KV 28 helicopters will be equipped with state-of-the-art technology, which will significantly enhance their capabilities.
The implementation of the KV 28 MLU contract will give the Indian Navy’s Ka-28 helicopter fleet a new lease of life, to ensure its relevance and effectiveness in the coming years, the publication said. The upgraded helicopters will play a crucial role in various missions, including anti-submarine defence, maritime patrols, search and rescue operations, further strengthening India’s maritime security posture.
As part of the modernisation programme, the helicopters will get a significant boost in their capabilities. Enhanced radars and sonars will improve their situational awareness and target detection, especially in difficult sea conditions. The integration of the new tactical mission system and weapons suite will enhance operational capabilities, making the vehicles more versatile and effective, India said.
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