The Chetak is currently powered by Turbomeca's Artouste IIIB engine. A minimum of 200 aircraft used by the Indian Armed Forces, could now be re-engined with the TM 333 2M2.

HAL Chairman Ashok K Baweja said: "The TM 333 2M2 engine will make Chetan a highly reliable helicopter with far less fuel consumption which will increase its range, endurance and useful load".

The Chetan is primarily being designed to evacuate casualties from high-altitude areas in the Himalayas and the North East.

The next stage in the re-engining project is the civil certification of the Chetan fitted with the TM 333 2M2. This will encourage many Chetak operators to go in for life extensions of their existing fleets.

India's armed forces and civil operators are currently using 300 Chetaks accross the country.

The TM 333 2M2 is a new variant of the TM 333 2B2 engine, specificallly designed for single engine helicopters. It already successfully powers the Cheetal, the upgraded version of the Cheetah (Lama). The TM 333 is a 800-900 kW class engine with advanced and proven technology, providing high reliability, low cost maintenance and operation.