The Indian Navy's Kamov helicopters are set for a makeover with the country's blue water force undertaking a program to modernise its fleet of Russian-origin combat choppers.
The Indian Navy is following a two-pronged approach in its modernising project for the Kamov helicopters. While the choppers are being overhauled in Russia, the upgrades are being carried out in Visakhapatnam.
The project codenamed KV 28 MLU will add more teeth to these helicopters that are crucial for India's security needs, especially when the Indian Ocean Region (IOR) has become the focus of global geopolitics.
According to the initiative announced by India's Ministry of Defence (MoD), the Kamov choppers, first inducted into service by the Indian Navy in 1989, will undergo multiple mechanical enhancements at the Russian Helicopters, the manufacturers of the Kamos choppers in the Eurasian nation.
After the mechanical uplift in Russia, the helicopters will be upgraded at INS Dega, an aviation facility dedicated to naval aircraft and helicopters in India's southeastern Andhra Pradesh state.
At INS Dega, the Kamos-28 choppers will be equipped with advanced technology, including new sensors, a state-of-the-art weapons suite, and a tactical mission system.
New Sensors: With the integration of the latest radars and sonars, the Kamov-28 helicopters will have a brand new target detection in their system, giving a big boost to their capability to take on tricky challenges in various maritime missions.
Weapons Suite: By equipping the Kamov-28 with a modern weapons suite, the Indian Navy will bolster its ability to destroy the enemy's naval aircraft, helicopters, and submarines, particularly when the Pakistani Navy is expanding its underwater fleet at a fast pace.
At present, the weapons package of India's Kamov-28 helicopters features ASW torpedoes and anti-ship missiles.