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New Delhi, June 28 (IANS) US aerospace giant Bell claims it is just a whisker away from an Indian Army order for 197 multi-role helicopters in a deal that is valued at Rs.22 billion (about $500 million), and it has offered India assistance in developing a home grown attack helicopter.
'The Bell-407 is the only machine to have met or exceeded the requirements (laid down in its request for proposal - RFP - the army made in 2003),' said a confident Jay Ortiz, Campaign Director (International Military Sales) for the Fort Worth, Texas-based Bell Helicopter.
This apart, Bell has offered state-owned Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) assistance in developing an attack helicopter it has just started work on and the prototype of which it hopes will roll out in two years.
'We have two variants of an attack helicopter - the AH1Z and the UH1Y. The first is a 14-passenger troop carrier and the other a heavily armed attack helicopter. We can offer HAL our expertise in developing its own machine,' Ortiz told IANS.
According to the official, the defence ministry's oversight committee was now reviewing the technical evaluation report on the Bell-407.
'We believe this began a month ago and should be completed any day now. After that, there may be further discussions before an order is placed,' Ortiz said.
The Indian government's new defence procurement policy announced late last year has introduced two new elements - the oversight committee and an offsets clause - to ensure transparency in all purchases.
Under the offsets clause, 30 percent of all defence deals worth over Rs.3 billion ($64 million) has to be reinvested in the country to either build capacities or outsource components and equipment.
'We have been provided a list of components (HAL) has on offer and we have submitted a proposal based on this,' Ortiz said, adding the details would emerge only after the two sides discussed the issue face-to-face.
The Indian Army has projected a requirement for a helicopter that can carry loads of up to 75 kg heights of 23,000 feet on the Siachen Glacier in Jammu and Kashmir. Flying at these heights poses unique challenges due to the rarified atmosphere. The helicopters are meant to replace the army's ageing fleet of Chetaks and Cheetahs, some of which were inducted more than three decades ago.
The army, which had issued its request for information (RFI) in 1999, had short-listed the Bell-407 and the Eurocopter AS 550 in its RFP.
Both machines were put through a series of extensive trials in the Siachen Glacier and the deserts of Rajasthan, where they will primarily be deployed.
Defence ministry officials confirmed the trials had been completed but refused to comment on the outcome. Eurocopter officials were not immediately available for comment.
According to the Bell official, the army wants to by 60 helicopters outright with the remaining 137 being licensed manufactured by HAL.
As regards the transfer of technology element, he said Bell 'adequately meets the requirements' in the five categories involved. The percentage of technology transfer ranges from 60 to 100 percent.
The Bell official said the company had offered to make India the global hub to produce the 407. Bell had also inked a deal with HAL to manufacture tail rotor blades and other critical components for the popular Bell 206 Jet Ranger and initial deliveries have already been made.
The Army Aviation Corps (AAC) currently operates a fleet of 300 French-designed Chetaks and Cheetahs, originally known as the Alouette II and Alouette III respectively. While 197 of these have almost reached the end of their service life and need to be phased out immediately, the others would have to be retired over the next decade.
'The Bell-407 is the only machine to have met or exceeded the requirements (laid down in its request for proposal - RFP - the army made in 2003),' said a confident Jay Ortiz, Campaign Director (International Military Sales) for the Fort Worth, Texas-based Bell Helicopter.
This apart, Bell has offered state-owned Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) assistance in developing an attack helicopter it has just started work on and the prototype of which it hopes will roll out in two years.
'We have two variants of an attack helicopter - the AH1Z and the UH1Y. The first is a 14-passenger troop carrier and the other a heavily armed attack helicopter. We can offer HAL our expertise in developing its own machine,' Ortiz told IANS.
According to the official, the defence ministry's oversight committee was now reviewing the technical evaluation report on the Bell-407.
'We believe this began a month ago and should be completed any day now. After that, there may be further discussions before an order is placed,' Ortiz said.
The Indian government's new defence procurement policy announced late last year has introduced two new elements - the oversight committee and an offsets clause - to ensure transparency in all purchases.
Under the offsets clause, 30 percent of all defence deals worth over Rs.3 billion ($64 million) has to be reinvested in the country to either build capacities or outsource components and equipment.
'We have been provided a list of components (HAL) has on offer and we have submitted a proposal based on this,' Ortiz said, adding the details would emerge only after the two sides discussed the issue face-to-face.
The Indian Army has projected a requirement for a helicopter that can carry loads of up to 75 kg heights of 23,000 feet on the Siachen Glacier in Jammu and Kashmir. Flying at these heights poses unique challenges due to the rarified atmosphere. The helicopters are meant to replace the army's ageing fleet of Chetaks and Cheetahs, some of which were inducted more than three decades ago.
The army, which had issued its request for information (RFI) in 1999, had short-listed the Bell-407 and the Eurocopter AS 550 in its RFP.
Both machines were put through a series of extensive trials in the Siachen Glacier and the deserts of Rajasthan, where they will primarily be deployed.
Defence ministry officials confirmed the trials had been completed but refused to comment on the outcome. Eurocopter officials were not immediately available for comment.
According to the Bell official, the army wants to by 60 helicopters outright with the remaining 137 being licensed manufactured by HAL.
As regards the transfer of technology element, he said Bell 'adequately meets the requirements' in the five categories involved. The percentage of technology transfer ranges from 60 to 100 percent.
The Bell official said the company had offered to make India the global hub to produce the 407. Bell had also inked a deal with HAL to manufacture tail rotor blades and other critical components for the popular Bell 206 Jet Ranger and initial deliveries have already been made.
The Army Aviation Corps (AAC) currently operates a fleet of 300 French-designed Chetaks and Cheetahs, originally known as the Alouette II and Alouette III respectively. While 197 of these have almost reached the end of their service life and need to be phased out immediately, the others would have to be retired over the next decade.
Source: Daily India
Personally i would rather see India get the Ka-50 but it isn't really production ready but seeing how well Israel has used the AH-1Z i am optimistic that the Indian forces can excel with the Super Cobras. Also this will be a massive confidence building move between India and America.
Edited by Prophet of the Pimps, 02 July 2006 - 20:23.
