VVIP Helicopter Bribery Charges Baseless, Says AgustaWestland

AgustaWestland has termed the allegations of bribery relating to the sale of 12 VVIP helicopters to India as “baseless” at Aero India 2013.

“The truth has prevailed,” said Geoff Hoon, AgustaWestland's Managing Director for International Business in an interview with defenseworld.net. “They were allegations. That is the right word. They were not proved and there was no substance to them. They were thoroughly investigated, as I understand it. And no one could find any truth to it”.

Most recently the Indian Air Force backed the company and rubbished the charges.  “The Air Force will go ahead with the deal. We have conducted the transaction with professionalism, procedurally and thoroughly. There is no basis to the media reports,” IAF spokesperson Wing Commander Gerard Galway told Defenseworld.net last year.

According to AgustaWestland, the first of 12 choppers are being outfitted as per the Indian order with delivery to be made within agreed schedules.

The IAF is scheduled to receive its first AW101 helicopter in VVIP passenger configuration within the next 2-3 months.

Following the success of the VVIP helicopter sale, AW is pitching for more sales opportunities in India. “Where we have the opportunity we will compete vigorously. We are looking forward to working with TATA in that enterprise”.