India Picks Boeing Chinook As Winner Of Helicopter Competition

The Indian Defense Ministry has confirmed Boeing as the winner of heavy-lift helicopter tender. Boeing beat Russian Mi-26 helicopters to win the tender to supply 15 heavy-lift choppers. Both manufacturers had qualified in the technical trials and their financial bids, covering the initial acquisition cost as well as the lifecycle costs. "In the proposal initiated by Indian Air Force (IAF) for procurement of 15 Heavy Lift Helicopters, Boeing with Chinook Helicopter has emerged as the L1 Vendor,” the ministry said in a statement. “The Field Evaluation Trials for these Helicopters conducted by the Indian Air Force have found them to be compliant with all the stated Air Staff Qualitative Requirements (ASQRs),” the statement said. The cost of the future contract will be determined following contract negotiations with Boeing, which are currently underway, the Indian military added. The Indian media have been reporting for weeks now that Boeing has clinched the deal while Russia’s state arms exporter Rosoboronexport insisted that the outcome of the tender was still undetermined. A traditional favorite, Russia has been India’s largest arms supplier until Russian companies failed to fulfill several contracts. In 2011, Russia lost two Indian tenders to supply choppers and most recently lost its bid for the $10 billion Medium Multi-Role Combat Aircraft (MMRCA) tender.