HAL delivers Namibian helicopters

India's Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) has delivered a Chetak (Hindi: horse) – a licence-built version of the Aérospatiale (now Eurocopter) SA 316B Alouette III – to the Namibian Defence Force under a US$10 million order signed in June 2009. Two Cheetah (Aérospatiale SA 315B Lama) will be delivered in June under the same contract.

The hand-over took place Wednesday at the Aero India air show in Bangalore. “HAL is committed towards meeting the target of handing over two Cheetahs to Namibia and work in this regard is in full swing", HAL managing director P Soundara Rajan said after handing over the rotorcraft to Namibian defence minister Major General (Ret) Charles Namolah. The authoritative London-based International Institute for Strategic Studies notes the Namibian Air Force operates 2 Mil Mi-25 “Hind” attack helicopters, 2 Mil Mi-17 “Hip” medium transports and two SA 319 Alouette III.