The Indian Coast Guard programme to acquire 14 Twin Engine Heavy Helicopters (TEHH) is finally set to take off, with the Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) slated to consider approval for issuance of a Buy Global tender reportedly worth 6,500 Crore ($910.8 Million) in a meeting scheduled to be chaired by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on November 28.
These long-rage helicopters are meant to close gaps in coastal surveillance capability exposed by the 26/11 terror attack from the sea on Mumbai in 2008. The Coast Guard is seeking helicopter endurance of over 6 hours for sustained surveillance capability to protect India’s coastline and to monitor its 2 million square km Exclusive Economic Zone. This would be a major upgrade from its current heliborne capability represented by the Chetak and Advanced Light Helicopters.
