Boeing to clinch $2.4 billion Indian Air Force deal: Report

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NEW DELHI: Boeing looks set to win military contracts worth $2.4 billion from India for its Chinook and Apache helicopters, a report said Monday.

Dow Jones Newswires, quoting an unidentified Indian Air Force official, said commercial negotiations would begin soon for the purchase of 15 Chinook CH-47F heavy-lift helicopters and 22 AH-64D Block III Apache helicopters.

The transaction would mark a big shift for India away from its traditional supplier Russia.

Boeing's twin-rotor Chinook was chosen recently as the preferred bidder over Russia-based MiL Moscow Helicopter Plant's Mi-26, while the Apache was selected over the Mi-28, Dow Jones reported.

It quoted another person familiar with the matter as saying the Chinook deal was estimated at $1 billion while the Apache deal was worth $1.4 billion.

There was no immediate comment available from the Indian Air Force or Boeing.

Moscow has traditionally been the biggest supplier of aircraft and defence equipment to India.

With the latest reported development, Russia would have lost both recent competitive tenders in India in which it took part — the other being its bid to supply combat helicopters, which was also trumped by Boeing.

Earlier this year, France's Rafale won a competition to provide 126 combat jets for the Indian Air Force.

Russia supplies around 70 per cent of India's military hardware. But New Delhi has been unhappy about delays in arms orders from Moscow and has looked to other suppliers including the United States and Israel in recent years.

Boeing to clinch $2.4 billion Indian Air Force deal: Report - The Times of India

 

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Look how quickly Apache loaded

 

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Boeing preferred bidder in second India helicopter deal - source


(Reuters) - India has chosen Boeing Corp (BA.N) as the preferred bidder to supply 15 heavy lift helicopters for its Air Force, a Defence Ministry source said on Monday, potentially the second major Indian contract this year for the Seattle-based firm.

Boeing's Chinook twin rotor helicopters emerged as the lowest bidder and will now hold exclusive negotiations with the ministry, the source told Reuters, speaking on condition of anonymity.

"Depending on how things progress, the final announcement will take three to six months," said the source, who did not give details of the value of the deal.

In Indian defence deals, exclusive talks are not a guarantee of sale.

Earlier this year Boeing's Apache was chosen as the preferred bidder for a deal to provide 22 heavy combat helicopters to India. It was up against Russian Mi-28.

Sections of the media have reported the heavy lift helicopter deal to be valued at $1 billion, and the combat helicopter deal at $1.4 billion.

The Chinook's competitor in the Indian bid was the Russian Mil Moscow Helicopter Plant's Mi-26.

Boeing is also supplying P-8 maritime surveillance planes and C-17 cargo aircraft to the world's largest arms importer.

India has been a big buyer of Soviet Union weaponry and still relies on Russia for 60 percent of its arms purchases, but has diversified its suppliers in recent years. Israel is now the No. 2 seller, with countries like the United States and France also increasing their presence. (Reporting by Arup Roychoudhury; editing by Patrick Graham)

Boeing preferred bidder in second India helicopter deal - source | Reuters

 

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Boeing's Indian deal to buy helicopters worth $2.4 billion may take six months: Officials


ndian military officials said Wednesday that negotiations with Boeing to buy helicopters worth $2.4 billion could take up to six months to conclude.
New Delhi last month selected the US aeronautical giant to provide 15 Chinook CH-47F heavy-lift helicopters and 22 AH-64D Block III Apache helicopters for its expanding air force.

"Once the company has been selected, commercial negotiations begin almost immediately," a senior air force official told AFP.

"The duration of the negotiations can vary between three and six months but if it takes longer it does not mean the deal is going bad," said the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity.

Boeing's twin-rotor Chinook was chosen over Russia-based MiL Moscow Helicopter Plant's Mi-26, while the Apache was selected over the Mi-28, the official said, confirming earlier media reports.

There was no immediate official comment from the Indian Air Force or Boeing.

Dow Jones Newswires said the Chinook deal was estimated at $1 billion while the Apache deal was worth $1.4 billion.

The decision marks a significant shift for India away from its traditional arms supplier Russia.

Earlier this year, France's Rafale won a competition to provide 126 combat jets for the Indian Air Force.

Boeing's Indian deal to buy helicopters worth $2.4 billion may take six months: Officials - The Economic Times