Desperate Eurocopter Pleads For Clarity On Copter Deal

[thestringshredder]

For Eurocopter, it's not quite a nightmare deja vu. It's actually a lot worse. With India's $750-million light reconnaissance & surveillance helicopter (RSH) acquisition in a graveyard spin, the company is rapidly losing patience -- and hope -- of a recovery. There couldn't possibly be a worse situation for a firm that already saw a programme abort in December 2007 during the first iteration of the acquisition, an effort that imploded following allegations by Bell Helicopter that Eurocopter had failed to comply with trial specifications. This time around, already delayed inordinately, the acquisition has been specifically stalled following the discovery of certain information as part of the Finmeccanica investigations, which suggested that a serving Indian Army officer had offered to rig field evaluation trials in the acquisition to favour AgustaWestland -- the officer is currently under investigation in India. It is all but official, though, that the deal will never get back on track, and is more likely to die a quiet death. Eurocopter's consternation is clear.

Livefist has exclusive access to a recent letter written (see right) by Eurocopter's VP Sales & Customer Relations for India & South Asia, Rainer Farid, to India's Director General (Acquisitions), in which he writes, "It is particularly disturbing that there seem to be certain groups with vested interests who are continuously trying to derail the procurement process, by resorting to incorrect complaints regarding the conduct of field trials and technical evaluation results."

The timeline of this protracted and crucial programme is as follows:

-July 2008: Indian MoD issues RfP to global vendors -- this is the second RfP after the first competition was scrapped following certain deviations by contenders.
-Dec 2008: Technical and commercial offers submitted by contenders.
-Nov 2009: MoD calls for field evaluation trials.
-Jan 2010: Field evaluation trials commence - Winter trials in desert & high altitude in Phase 1 during Jan-Feb 2010, Maintainability evaluation trials in Phase 2 during March 2010, Evaluation trials in deserts and high altitude in Phase 3 during May-Jun 2010 and finally, Role and mission systems trials in Russia and France during Phase 4 in Jan 2011.
-Jan 2011: Army and IAF submit trial report to MoD.
-Feb-Dec 2011: General staff evaluation and vetting of the trial report submitted by the Army and IAF
-Jan 2012: MoD orders Technical Oversight Committee (TOC) to validate the General Staff Evaluation report
-April 2012: MoD orders Special Technical Oversight Committee (STOC) to validate the TOC report.
-June 2012: STOC submits its final report to the Defence Secretary.
Eurocopter had said it wouldn't extend the validity of its commercial bid beyond March 31, 2013, but finally did so, as the MoD required, till December 31, 2013. Now they'll be wondering if that was even necessary. Kamov, which competes with its Ka-226T Sergei refused to comment officially, but an official with Russian Helicopter Co. did sound upbeat about the programme when I spoke to him a week ago.

Link - Livefist: Desperate Eurocopter Pleads For Clarity On Copter Deal

 

[Abingdonboy]

Dear Mr "Saint" Antony- F**k you,


Your indecision and selfishness has killed untold Indian military servicemen who alone were individually worth 10 of you. Another move that will see yet more Indian servicemen meet an early end directly because of your SELFISH self-protection outlook. This RSH deal has been handled in the worst way possible- indefinite delays with no official narrative of what is going on so no one involved knows what's going on. Not only are you effectively killing Indians but you are making India look a laughing stock to the world.

How can you sleep at night? You live a cushy life wih your chauffeur and countless aides, a nice salary, a nice big govt office and a large house when Indian military personal a serving in the most basic of conditions, fighting and dieing to protect you and their nation- all they ask is for adequate equipment and you can't even give them that? So what a Chetak crashes? So what if a Mig-21 crashes? Right?? What are you waging for? Why all this indecision? Are you hoping the issues will just resolve themselves? That your problems will just go away? Every time you chose YOURSELF and protecting your image over serving those who serve you. Of course you are well removed from their hardships aren't you? When's the last time you went to the LoC? To Siachin? To the LAC? To a military funeral?

You're a God fearing man, right? I hope you've got something prepared to say to the Almighty for the day you meet them.

Once again- FVCK YOU!!!!!


Yours Sincerely,

Disgustedinyou.



God I just hope HAL delivers their LUH sooner rather than later.

 

[Kloitra]

Dear Mr "Saint" Antony- F**k you,


Your indecision and selfishness has killed untold Indian military servicemen who alone were individually worth 10 of you. Another move that will see yet more Indian servicemen meet an early end directly because of your SELFISH self-protection outlook. This RSH deal has been handled in the worst way possible- indefinite delays with no official narrative of what is going on so no one involved knows what's going on. Not only are you effectively killing Indians but you are making India look a laughing stock to the world.

How can you sleep at night? You live a cushy life wih your chauffeur and countless aides, a nice salary, a nice big govt office and a large house when Indian military personal a serving in the most basic of conditions, fighting and dieing to protect you and their nation- all they ask is for adequate equipment and you can't even give them that? So what a Chetak crashes? So what if a Mig-21 crashes? Right?? What are you waging for? Why all this indecision? Are you hoping the issues will just resolve themselves? That your problems will just go away? Every time you chose YOURSELF and protecting your image over serving those who serve you. Of course you are well removed from their hardships aren't you? When's the last time you went to the LoC? To Siachin? To the LAC? To a military funeral?

You're a God fearing man, right? I hope you've got something prepared to say to the Almighty for the day you meet them.

Once again- FVCK YOU!!!!!


Yours Sincerely,

Disgustedinyou.



God I just hope HAL delivers their LUH sooner rather than later.

Was the rate of modernization better with previous corrupt ministers?

 

[Abingdonboy]

Was the rate of modernization better with previous corrupt ministers?

Did they have the budgets to do so? This is not a poltical point I'm making and I'm not talking about part Def Mins I'm talking about this current a-hole. The fact is that AK "Saint" Antony has presided of the over the period where India has never been richer and the Indian defence budget so high and he has failed again and again to use his discretion to create a situation where the Indian military wins. Again and again he choses himself and his interests.

10 years ago the Indian defence budget want even 50% of what it is today.

All things being equal the Indian military should have been far further along the line of modernisation than they are today.


The fact is, and this article has confirmed it, many losing entrants in whatever military deal now make false accusations of graft knowing full well what Antony will do- cancel the deal and most likely re-tender it. This has happened on countless deals and is happening again and again. Antony is now one if the longest serving defence ministers in Indian history so we have to judge him as he is not by the benchmark of past Def Mins. Some of the most crucial deals- RSH, Arty, MMRCA, N-MRH have been dogged by BS allegations and indecision for years, in some cases, and decades only now is it some are gaining any traction and foreward momentum.


Whenever you hear about these graft allegations more often than not it is these "vested interests" that the article states that is fuelling them. These vested interests are losing entrants who gain most from Antony's obvious character flaws.

 

[Kloitra]

Did they have the budgets to do so? This is not a poltical point I'm making and I'm not talking about part Def Mins I'm talking about this current a-hole. The fact is that AK "Saint" Antony has presided of the over the period where India has never been richer and the Indian defence budget so high and he has failed again and again to use his discretion to create a situation where the Indian military wins. Again and again he choses himself and his interests.

10 years ago the Indian defence budget want even 50% of what it is today.

All things being equal the Indian military should have been far further along the line of modernisation than they are today.


The fact is, and this article has confirmed it, many losing entrants in whatever military deal now make false accusations of graft knowing full well what Antony will do- cancel the deal and most likely re-tender it. This has happened on countless deals and is happening again and again. Antony is now one if the longest serving defence ministers in Indian history so we have to judge him as he is not by the benchmark of past Def Mins. Some of the most crucial deals- RSH, Arty, MMRCA, N-MRH have been dogged by BS allegations and indecision for years, in some cases, and decades only now is it some are gaining any traction and foreward momentum.


Whenever you hear about these graft allegations more often than not it is these "vested interests" that the article states that is fuelling them. These vested interests are losing entrants who gain most from Antony's obvious character flaws.

The money wasn't so short, that there would be no purchase of trainers, the system is flawed.

What Antony is doing may hurt the forces in short term, but it is like a slow and painful cure for a disease. MRCA deal is a prime example. If a precedent is set to procure a system on the basis of merit, it would make corruption harder.

Also, in my opinion he is rooting for indigenization. Slow foreign procurement would push the forces to look at DRDO.

If you have noticed, crash rate in IAF has fallen. And this was the reason:

Sourcing MIG spares from outside Russia wrong: Envoy

Indian Air Force’s efforts to procure spare parts for its Soviet-era aircraft from global market were “wrong” and after using these “fake” equipment, the service should not be surprised if its fighter jets meet with accidents, Russia said on Monday.

“It is wrong as all those spare parts are fake. For MiG and other planes, you need authentic parts, And then you are surprised why your planes fall because spare parts are bought from unauthorised sources,” Russian Ambassador to India Alexander Kadakin said.

“We are not against India buying from somewhere else if they get better things. We are not going to be in competition with anyone. We have our own niche in cooperating with India and we shall do what our Indian friends ask us to do.”

He is, I believe, working to change such situation.

 

[Abingdonboy]

The money wasn't so short, that there would be no purchase of trainers, the system is flawed.

What Antony is doing may hurt the forces in short term, but it is like a slow and painful cure for a disease. MRCA deal is a prime example. If a precedent is set to procure a system on the basis of merit, it would make corruption harder.

Also, in my opinion he is rooting for indigenization. Slow foreign procurement would push the forces to look at DRDO.

If you have noticed, crash rate in IAF has fallen. And this was the reason:

Sourcing MIG spares from outside Russia wrong: Envoy


He is, I believe, working to change such situation.

I'll give you some points mate. But the fact is above all else he is merely interested in protecting his own reputation/image. Yes he is doing some good in certain areas- I'm not going to deny this. But at the same time he is making some awful calls. Speaking on the LUH specifically- read this article- not even a bidding OEM has any idea what is going on. This just isn't normal. Antony could have used his personal discretion wrt the RSH case and opted for the FENNEC, there was no real issue with this as the scandel surrounding the RSH deal pertains to Agusta and Westland and the fact is their bid never got off the ground and the FENNEC came out as the clear eventual winner with no ties to AW. If Antony had wanted to he could have used his position to get the deal moved foreward if he put the Indian servicemen's interests over his own.


Since ~2010/11 (when this deal could conceivably have been signed) how many Chetaks and Cheetahs have crashed? More than 5 that's for sure. And the loss of life has been considerable >15 and that includes innocents killed on the ground as had happened when a Chetak crashed in JK. Yes not all of these will be as a result of the machines' age but most will be. At the very least his selfishness has lead to 7+ unavoidable deaths. Can you put a cost on suffering?


It's not like the "Saint" is even conducting a wide-spread probe into the deal- he is merely putting off making a decision. So instead of any clear direction the military and OEMs are left with ambiguity. What's he waiting for? Someone to tell him what to do? Recently the DAC has been given this discretionary call making power as clearly giving such powers to the Def Min was costing time.



Let me tell you something- his security would not be allow him to fly in the machines (Chetaks and Cheetahs) that he is asking the military to keep flying for God knows how many more years now.

 

[Kloitra]

@Abingdonboy
System is too corrupt. If they don't receive the bitter medicine that they are now, they would never change.

I think with the new procurement policy, the inductions would get faster, and corruption be reduced.
Lets give this policy atleast one year, or even few months and then may be we should be critical about him. I, for one, have high hopes for the new policy.

 

[Tshering22]

[MENTION=28303]I, for one, have high hopes for the new policy.

Then for this we will need to wait till next year General Elections because there is simply no foresight by UPA-2. Before calling me politicized please look at the defence issues in the last one year that have happened both internal and external; not just security concerns but also the abysmal performance in the defence sector.

 

[Kloitra]

Then for this we will need to wait till next year General Elections because there is simply no foresight by UPA-2. Before calling me politicized please look at the defence issues in the last one year that have happened both internal and external; not just security concerns but also the abysmal performance in the defence sector.

I am hoping that the policy would remain unaffected by the govt. Lets wait and see, it has only been 10 days since it went in effect.

 

[Abingdonboy]

@Abingdonboy
System is too corrupt. If they don't receive the bitter medicine that they are now, they would never change.

I think with the new procurement policy, the inductions would get faster, and corruption be reduced.
Lets give this policy atleast one year, or even few months and then may be we should be critical about him. I, for one, have high hopes for the new policy.

I agree the DPP-2013 is a good step forward ad I hope we see some positive results from this policy soon. However what has DPP-2013 got to do with the RSH deal? The RSH deal doesn't fall under the purview of the DPP-2013.

 

[Kloitra]

I agree the DPP-2013 is a good step forward ad I hope we see some positive results from this policy soon. However what has DPP-2013 got to do with the RSH deal? The RSH deal doesn't fall under the purview of the DPP-2013.

I wanted to point out that he is taking steps which would make corruption harder and procurement easier and faster. A few deals would suffer for now, but its like a bitter medicine. It is not for just the defence ministry and forces. This would make the companies think hard before bribing.

If hard steps are not taken, this practice would never end. It is because there are no proper procedures in place that Bell managed to stall the deal with an allegation. Things like rigging happen. I support Antony if he can weed out such practices.

 

[perplexed]

Vote for MODI

 

[Bang Galore]

You're a God fearing man, right? I hope you've got something prepared to say to the Almighty for the day you meet them.

God fearing? Try atheist. He was one of the few cabinet ministers who didn't swear by God while taking his oath.

 

[sancho]

The fact is that AK "Saint" Antony has presided of the over the period where India has never been richer and the Indian defence budget so high and he has failed again and again to use his discretion to create a situation where the Indian military wins. Again and again he choses himself and his interests.

That's not true, because you blame him for bribery cases that officers in the forces, or officials of manufacturers caused, so you basically blame him for keeping the rules! I agree with you that in this LUH case it doesn't make sense, since AW is neither blacklisted or a case filed against them yet, nor have they any importance in the LUH competition. However, most of the other examples you make are wrong. The howitzer competition delays have nothing to do with him or MoD, but with IA's failure of to field propper competitions with all necessary preperations against bribes. The tanker deal for example was delayed by Finance minstry and by IAF, because they didn't included life cycle costs from the start. The first LUH cancellation was caused by the US manufacturers, that issued a complain against rules of the IAF competition, which wasn't clear enough...and the list goes on and on.

Indians in general make it waaaaaaay to easy by blaming politicians for everything and even if they might have their fair share, most of the issues in India are caused by bribery and inefficiency within Indian forces and manufacturers. He and the MoD clearly are pushing for modernisations, otherwise the tanker deal would never be finished after the FM issues, nor would the FMS deals for the US aircrafts done so fast.