Eurocopter calls for conclusion of India competition

[Thundersword]

By: GREG WALDRON SINGAPORE 04:54 2 Apr 2012

Eurocopter CEO Lutz Bertling says it is time for India's competition for 197 reconnaissance and surveillance helicopters (RSH) to be concluded.

"It is time for this competition to end," he says. "The army needs this helicopter for their missions."

Bertling was speaking to journalists at a media roundtable on the sidelines of India's Defexpo 2012.

The RSH competition is between Eurocopter's AS550 C3 Fennec and Russia's Kamov KA-226T for 197 helicopters. The evaluation of flight trials report for the competition was submitted in 2011, but India's ministry of defence has yet to open commercial offers for the programme.

The Fennec was selected as the winner of a similar tender in 2007, but this tender was cancelled, with a re-tender issued in 2008. The winner will replace the army's obsolescent Cheetah and Cheetak helicopters.

Frustrated by the apparent delays in concluding the competition, Eurocopter sent a letter to the ministry of defence in February enquiring about the competition's status.

Bertling says Eurocopter has yet to receive a response to the letter and that Eurocopter's current offer expires on 18 June.

http://www.flightglobal.com/news/ar...s-for-conclusion-of-india-competition-370221/

 

[angeldemon_007]

Bertling says Eurocopter has yet to receive a response to the letter and that Eurocopter's current offer expires on 18 June.

I think the deal is going to be signed before that

 

[Nalwa]

Was the ALH Dhruv evaluated before this tender was issued? Will it fall short of the requirements here?

 

[Roybot]

Was the ALH Dhruv evaluated before this tender was issued? Will it fall short of the requirements here?

I think Dhruv is in a different class. Requirement was for light helicopters.

 

[Raje amar]

I think Dhruv is in a different class. Requirement was for light helicopters.

can anybody please explain to me why ALH Dhruva will not fit in the role?
IA will get a better heli with the same price(i think so).

 

[sancho]

can anybody please explain to me why ALH Dhruva will not fit in the role?
IA will get a better heli with the same price(i think so).

Dhruv is a twin engine heavier helicopter, that is also more costly to operate than these (very)light class single engine helis, that's why HAL is developing an LUH as well:

The aim is, that this foreign LUH will take one part of IAs and IAFs requirement, while HALs LUH will take the other half later.