India has set the ball rolling for another mega defence deal, worth close to $1 billion, for the acquisition of 56 naval utility helicopters.
The new tender or RFP (request for proposal) for the 56 naval helicopters was issued to all top global aviation majors — ranging from Boeing, Bell and Sikorsky to Kamov, Eurocopter and AgustaWestland — last week.
This is Navy’s second major “rotary wing” project. The first is for around 90 multi-role helicopters in the 9 to12.5-tonne class, with potent combat capabilities as well as customized for amphibious assaults and commando operations, at a cost of over $2.5 billion to replace ageing Sea King helicopters.
But the first contract for 16 such multi-role helicopters — to be followed by the main one for over 75 choppers — has run into some trouble. European NH Industries, which deployed its NH-90 helicopters for the extensive field trials, has filed a complaint against the other contender, the American Sikorsky-70B.
Another big project facing similar problems is the one for 197 light helicopters for over Rs 3,000 crore, with Russian Kamov Ka-226T pitted against Eurocopter AS 550 C3 Fennec after the technical evaluation.
The second contract for 71 more Russian medium-lift and weaponized Mi-17 V5 helicopters for around $1 billion, 59 for IAF and 12 for BSF, is, however, going ahead. This comes after deliveries of the first 80 Mi-17 V5s to IAF, under a $1.34-billion deal inked in 2008, began last September.
-via The Times of India.
yaa, like this purchasing are happening and end user will be some Pratibha sing Patil type politicians , and they will missuses 140 cr of rupees to fly Air force aircraft .
Thank God this one is combat type a/c.
And for this absolutely in-essential expenditures neither BJP nor Communists nor TMC nor Modi nor JD(u) will ever raise their in protest. And that man Mr Jairam Ramesh will only provide us LIP-SERVICE asking Saint Antoni to divert those defence money to build more Toilets.
How many Toilets can be made and how many Manual Scavengers can be rehabilitated with that money? Can Jairam Ramesh now tell the people of India?