Two pilots of the Indian and Royal Bhutanese Army were killed when the Cheetah helicopter they were flying crashed near Yonphulla in Bhutan about 1 pm on September 27.

An Indian Army spokesperson identified the deceased pilots as Lt Colonel Rajneesh Parmar of the Indian Army and Captain Kalzang Trashigang of the Royal Bhutanese Army.

"In an unfortunate incident, an Indian Army helicopter has crashed at 1pm near Yonphullla in Bhutan. Helicopter went out of radio and visual contact soon after 1 pm. Helicopter was on way from Khirmu (Arunanchal) to Yongfulla on duty. Ground search and rescue (SAR) was launched immediately from Yongfulla. The wreckage has been located. IAF and Army helicopters SAR were also launched ex- Misamari, Guwahati and Hashimara," the spokesperson stated, confirming that there were no survivors.

The crash has once again put the spotlight on the urgency to replace the ageing Chetak-Cheetah fleet - based on the French Alhouettes - of 1970s vintage. The selection of the Russian Helicopters Kamov-226T as the Indian Army's new Light Utility Helicopter (LUH) was announced in December 2015 but there's no contract even after four years of protracted negotiations

The single-engine helicopter was on a sortie to train the Bhutanese pilot as part of the Indian Military Training (IMTRAT) effort in Bhutan.

The crash has once again put the spotlight on the urgency to replace the ageing Chetak-Cheetah fleet - based on the French Alhouettes - of 1970s vintage. The selection of the Russian Helicopters Kamov-226T as the Indian Army's new Light Utility Helicopter (LUH) was announced in December 2015 but there's no contract even after four years of protracted negotiations.

Two hundred Ka-226T are to be acquired, of which 60 will be imported from Russia and 140 license produced near Bengaluru by India-Russia Helicopters Limited, a joint venture between Russian Helicopters and Hindustan Aeronautics Limited.