Lockheed Martin Eyes Dual Helicopter Bid Strategy for India Deal

[ROCKETRAJA]

Lockheed Martin Corp. (LMT) said it may offer India a mixed helicopter offering as it competes for an order for more than $2 billion worth of maritime aircraft.Lockheed, based in Bethesda, Maryland, and United Technologies Corp. (UTX)’s Sikorsky are trying to tempt India with an offering comprised of the more capable MH-60R helicopter to fight against ships coupled with the basic MH-60S to help lower costs, said George Barton, vice president for business development at Lockheed Martin Mission Systems and Sensors. India is poised to formally kick off the competition for at least 75 naval helicopters.

The 2008 terrorist attacks on Mumbai and growing trade have driven India to put increased focus on controlling sea-lanes approaching the country. The heightened concern about threats from the sea is shared by Middle East and southeast Asian states, providing a sales opportunity for defense contractors at a time other markets are contracting.

“The maritime helicopter market is unique in that countries have to protect the sea-lines of communications,” Barton said in an interview at the Euronaval maritime conference at Le Bourget on the northern outskirts of Paris.

Lockheed Martin and Sikorsky, who developed the MH-60R for the U.S. Navy and sold the system to Australia last year, see Saudi Arabia, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, as well as Malaysia, Singapore and Thailand among potential buyers, Barton said. Thailand last year already agreed to buy the MH-60S.

The next big competition for the MH-60R will be in Denmark. The country is expected to take a decision on who will provide nine maritime helicopters before year-end, Barton said. The competition pits the MH-60R against the AgustaWestland AW159 being developed by Finmeccanica SpA (FNC)’s helicopter arm for the U.K. The two competitors also are doing battle in South Korea, where a decision to provide eight helicopters is likely next year.

Published October 24, 2012 | By admin
SOURCE: Bloomberg News

 

[Gessler]

As long as TASL gets to make those choppers in India...there're good enough
for us.

 

[Tshering22]

I wish HAL could make maritime helicopters enough to supply our troops.

 

[Gessler]

I wish HAL could make maritime helicopters enough to supply our troops.

A stretched version of Dhruv called Mk-5 was conceptualised but dropped becoz
of corrupt babudom who are more intent on the bribes they recieve from abroad from
buying they're choppers.

If Mk-5 Dhruv was developed, there would not have been any need for these
foreign acquisitions. Atleast now if LUH performs well, we can scrap the IN tender
for 56 light helos for replacing the SA.316Bs.

 

[Abingdonboy]

A stretched version of Dhruv called Mk-5 was conceptualised but dropped becoz
of corrupt babudom who are more intent on the bribes they recieve from abroad from
buying they're choppers.

If Mk-5 Dhruv was developed, there would not have been any need for these
foreign acquisitions. Atleast now if LUH performs well, we can scrap the IN tender
for 56 light helos for replacing the SA.316Bs.

At the point the Mk-5 was suggested there was nowhere near enough expertise available to actually delve on the promises. Just look at the IMRH project to see how the Mk-5 project would have gone, it is floundering due to a number of specific reasons and hence the forces have smartly started looking elsewhere. Thankfully HAL have well and truly mastered the ALH meaning a number of spin offs like the WSI, LUH and LCH have been developed quite successfully. But to take the jump to a 10 ton+ helo will take time and outside help. The forces have not bought into the BS being pushed by HAL and have gone their own way but this is pragmatic. The point on corrupt babus being the cause of importing weapons is simply not true- the requirements and vendors are selected by the military and the beauraceats only get involved when deals are to be signed. The forces would absolutely LOVE to be operating indigenous equipment but if they cannot afford to be waiting decades or paying over the odds for the Indian defence market to get up to the mark- that isn't their mandate, they are entrusted with national security and that is a job they must get on with hence imports.