HAL obtained a contract with the Argentine Air Force (AAF) to supply spare parts and repair services for Turbomeca Astazou IIIB turboshaft on vintage two-tonne class Aerospatiale SA 315B Lama helicopters.
Brigadier General Xavier Issac, Chief of Air Force, AAF, and Mr C B Ananthakrishnan, CMD, HAL, signed the deal.
Argentinian Air Force and Indian Armed Forces operate Aerospatial SA 315B Lama helicopters.
According to Brigadier General Xavier Issac, the contract for support services is a stepping stone for future engagements and defence cooperation between India and Argentina.
Ananthakrishnan stated that this transaction would pave the way for new momentum for Latin American defence exports. HAL has been assisting the Indian Defense Services and will continue to do so for the AAF.
Aerospatial SA 315B Lama helicopter
Sud Aviation (later Aerospatiale) created the Lama in response to an order from India. The Lama is a mix of an Alouette II body and the dynamic components of the Alouette III that is designed to operate in harsh riding conditions. On March 17, 1969, the prototype took to the skies for the first time. On June 21, 1972, a Lama with only one pilot achieved an altitude of 12,442 metres, setting a record for this aircraft type. HAL secured a licence production arrangement in India in 1971, renaming the Lamas Cheetah. Following a deal struck in 1978 between Aerospatiale and Helibras, Brazil also manufactured it under licence. Romania also constructed some SA.315Bs.
Lamas are used for light transport, observation, liaison, high-altitude evacuation, air ambulance, and other activities. This aircraft can hoist a cargo of up to 1 tonne up to 2500 metres while hanging.
Lama’s in Argentinian Service
After a thorough examination, the Argentine Air Force picked the French SA-315 Lama helicopter in the early 1970s. Since then, they have played an important role in search and rescue efforts in mountainous locations around the country. The Argentine Air Force established the V Search, Rescue, and Special Tasks Squadron on August 15, 1977, at the facilities of the IV Air Brigade in Mendoza.
Among other things, the unit assisted the Lama with sanitary evacuation and the supply of food and medicine to populations isolated by snow, avalanches, or floods, the rescue of muleteers and stallholders during the winter season, support for the extinction of forest fires, the installation of retransmitting antennas and high tension towers in difficult-to-reach locations, and assistance to engineers and technicians from various institutions for glacier research.
Argentina is currently evaluating the HAL Light Utility Helicopter (LUH) as the replacement for its ageing Lamas. Before this, the country had selected Bell 407 GXi) but did not purchase it.
