India issues RFP for combat, heavy lift helicopters

NEW DELHI: The Indian MoD has released an RFPs for 22 combat and 15 heavy lift helicopters to US, European and Russian manufacturers. Augosta Westland, Sikorsky, Bell, Eurocopter and Kamov are said to be among those invited to bid. Defence minister A K Antony who entered his second term as the political head of the MoD this Monday is understood to have ordered release the RfPs to manufacturers of combat and heavy lift helicopters. The RFP for the 22 combat helicopters had actually been released just before the Berlin Air Show in May 2008 to six contenders, Sikorsky for Black Hawk, Boeing for Apache AH 64D, Bell for Super Cobra (all three from US), Eurocopter for Tiger, Russian Mil for Mi 35, and Augusta Westland for Mangusta. The US companies could not compete due to what they said were time constraints and procedural bottlenecks within their country. IAF felt that some of the best technologies in combat machines were not on the platter, and accordingly a re-tender was requested. IAF and army helicopters are often called during natural disasters, but most of their helicopters are old, and not capable of the demanding tasks.The IAF had acquired a few Mi 26 in the mid-1980s. They are old, short of spares, and need replacement. Both the IAF and the Indian Army want heavy lift capability. Viuvek Lall, Boeing's Integrated Defence Systems (IDS) country head for India, has been quoted in the Indian media as saying "Boeing has received the RFPs for the attack and heavy lift helicopters and will review the requirements”. Air Vice Marshal (retired) A.J.S. Walia, Sikorsky's India vice president, said his company will pit the Black Hawk" in the competition.