AgustaWestland questions its elimination from Indian Army's $600 million contract

[neo29]

AugustaWestand which has been shown the door in the Indian Army's $600 million deal to purchase 197 light helicopters has questioned the reasons for its elimination. The company has not been invited for the Phase II final trials which are currently going on with two manufacturers, Eurocopter and Kamov from Russia.

The company together with its engine partner, Pratt & Whitney Canada has written to the Indian MOD that "the take off, maximum continuous, mechanical and thermal ratings, associated operating limits as well as the engine architecture and the mounting of the engine in the helicopter are the same in the AW119/RSH proposal, the trial helicopter and the final production standard helicopter".

Earlier, elaborating the reasons for its elimination, AgustaWestand had received a communication from the Indian MoD in April this year to the effect that there was a variance in the equipment offered (engine) in the technical proposal to that fielded in the trails and to the equipment which would be in the final production standard, AgustaWestland sources told Defenseworld.net.

The sources said that the issue focused on the fact that the offered engine had not finished the certification process and not deemed current production standard.

However, all vendors, Eurocopter, Kamov and itself are in the same position – all engines in the competition are non current production standard engines yet to be certified by any authority, the sources claimed.

The sources further asserted that the AgustaWestland AW119SP helicopter offered in the Indian competition meets all the RFP technical and mission requirements.

For the demanding high altitude mission, AW submitted detailed mission profiles and graphs demonstrating the ability to meet the mission.

These graphs were validated by the Customer's team during extensive high altitude flight testing in Phase 1 of the trials.

AgustaWestland could not participate in Phase 2 of the trials (as it was by the told of its elimination) where the exact requirement should have been demonstrated. However, AgustaWestland successfully performed considerable high altitude flying in Phase 1 and by simple extrapolation of the graphs, it is clear that the helicopter can meet the demanding mission; a key requirement for the customer, the sources claimed.

One of the key requirements of the RFP was the 2 stretcher configuration. AgustaWestland has successfully demonstrated the 2 stretcher requirement, and that the helicopter can also accommodate two stretchers and 2 medical attendants in the same cabin.

Installing the stretchers is a simple 5 minute process that does not require any structural changes or attachments. It claimed that one of the other two helicopters in the race does not meet the two stretcher requirement as only one stretcher can be accommodated, the sources claimed.

The 197 helicopter deal has seen Bell Helicopter pulling out from the race earlier and Eurocopter once disqualified after being named the final bidder. The current competition was re-floated two years ago.

AgustaWestland questions its elimination from Indian Army's $600 million contract

 

[Rage]

This is surprising. Especially since AgustaWestland established a joint venture with Tata Sons earlier this year to manufacture the AW119 for the "world market".

 

[pmaitra]

Hindustan's Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH) programme was 1st announced in Nov 1984,the ALH was designed with assistance from MBB in Germany.It followed a similar layout to that of the BK-117 although it is a larger aircraft. The twin 1000shp Turbomeca TM333-2B turboshafts are mounted above the cabin and drive a four-blade composite main rotor.The ALH makes use of an advanced integrated dynamic system which combines several rotor control features into an integrated module. The civil prototype ALH (Z-3182) first flew on 23 Aug 1992,at Bangalore,followed by a second civil aircraft (Z-3183),an Army version (Z-3268) and a navalised prototype (N.901) with Allied Signal CTS800 engines and a retractable tricycle undercarriage.Even after the first prototype flew in August 1992,problems arose due to the changing demands of the Indian military, unding,and contractual issues with Messerschmitt-B�lkow-Blohm, which was the consultant for design. Further delay was caused by U.S. sanctions after Indian nuclear tests in 1998, which embargoed the engine originally intended to power the helicopter. Then the helicopter used Turbomeca TM 333-2B2 turboshaft producing 746 kW (1000 SHP) each and an agreement was signed with Turbomeca to develop a more powerful engine.

A Weapon System Integrated (WSI) Dhruv is under development for the Indian Military services.It will have stub wings fitted to carry up to eight anti-armour missiles, four air-to-air missiles or four rocket pods for 70mm and 68mm rockets.The WSI variant will also have FLIR (Forward Looking Infrared), CCD (Charge Coupled Device) camera and a target acquisition system with thermal sight and laser rangefinder.

In December 2006, Nexter Systems (formerly Giat) was awarded a contract for the installation of the THL 20 20mm gun turret on the first 20 Indian forces Dhruv helicopters. The turret is armed with the M621 low-recoil cannon and is combined with a helmet-mounted sight.

The helicopter was fitted with the more powerful Shakti engine developed jointly by HAL and Turbomeca, and now entering production.The first test flight of the Dhruv with the new engine and the weaponised version took place on 16 August 2007.The naval version of the helicopter is fitted with the Mihir dunking SONAR which is integrated with the Helicopter Fire Control System.

One of only three helicopter display teams in the world, the Sarang aerobatic display team of the Indian Air Force performs with four Dhruv helicopters.

The Dhruv is capable of flying at high altitudes, a crucial requirement for the Army, which requires helicopters for operations in Siachen Glacier and Kashmir.In September 2007,the Dhruv was cleared for high-altitude flying in the Siachen Sector after six-month long trials.In October 2007,a Dhruv flew to an altitude of 27,500 feet (8,400 m) ASL in Siachen. This was the highest that the Dhruv had flown, and was higher than the 25,000 feet (7,600 m) record set by an IAF Cheetah helicopter in 2005.

A further order for 166 helicopters were placed with HAL since the helicopter is working well in higher altitude areas with the Indian Army.The Armed Forces may order 12 ambulances versions for use by the Armed Forces Medical Services for MEDEVAC operations . HAL Dhruv ambulances will have all the emergency medical equipment for the treatment of injured soldiers.

CURRENT VERSIONS:

Air force/army: Skid gear, crashworthy fuel tanks, bulletproof supply tanks, IR and flame suppression; night attack capability; roles to include attack and SAR.

Naval: Retractable tricycle gear, harpoon decklock, pressure refuelling; fairings on fuselage sides to house mainwheels, flotation gear and batteries.

Coast Guard: High commonality with naval version; nose-mounted surveillance radar; roof-mounted FLIR; starboard side, cabin-mounted 7.62mm machine gun; radar console and operator's seat; liferaft, loudhailer.

Foreign sales

The Dhruv has become the first major Indian weapons system to have secured large foreign sales. HAL hopes to sell 120 Dhruvs over the next 8 years,and has been displaying the Dhruv at airshows,including Farnborough and Paris in order to market the Dhruv.

With a unit price at least 15% less than its rivals,Dhruv has elicited interest in many countries, mostly from Latin America,Africa,West Asia,South East Asia and the Pacific Rim nations.Air forces from around 35 countries have sent in their inquiries,along with requests for demonstrations.

The first foreign orders for the Dhruv were placed by Nepal in early 2004,for 2 Dhruvs.Another Dhruv, a civilian version, was leased to the Israeli Defense Ministry in 2004

In June 2008,the government of Peru ordered two air ambulance Dhruvs for use by the Peruvian health services.Peru has also shown interest in the military version Dhruv.

HAL also secured an order from the Ecuadorian Air Force for seven Dhruvs. HAL has gained this order amidst strong competition from Elbit, Eurocopter and Kazan.HAL�s offer of $ 50.7 million for seven helicopters was about 32% lower than the second lowest bid from Elbit.Five helicopters will be delivered in February 2009, during the Aero India 2009. The remaining two helicopters will be delivered within six months Ecuadorian Army and Ecuadorian Navy have also expressed unofficial interest in purchasing the helicopter.

Dhruv also participated in a Chilean tender for eight to ten 5.5 tonne, twin engined new generation helicopter, but lost to the Bell Helicopters Bell 412 amid allegations of arm-twisting by the US Government.The evaluation included flights at high altitudes, hot and desert conditions, ship deck landing, search and rescue at 12,500 feet (3,800 m) MSL at a temperature of 2�C as well as long distance ferry flights, clocking 107 flying hours.

On August 10, 2008 HAL chairman confirmed it had finalized a deal with Turkey to supply 3 Dhruvs for $20 million. Turkey is planning to buy as many as 17 helicopters in medical assistance role.

India is also reportedly planning to transfer several Dhruvs to Myanmar. This led to protests from Amnesty International, who pointed to the use of components sourced from European suppliers as a possible violation of the EU Arms Embargo of Myanmar.In a letter to the President of the EU Council of Ministers, Amnesty stated that it had evidence that India planned to transfer two Dhruvs (with European components) to Burma.These reports have been denied by the Indian Government.

HAL is negotiating with Bolivia for delivery of five Dhruvs and with Venezuela for seven of the choppers in transport roles, and in Europe.The Dhruv is also being offered to Malaysia.Indonesia is also evaluating Dhruv helicopters for the Indonesian Army.

Flight certification for Europe and North America is also being planned, in order to tap the large civilian market there.

Political arm-twisting has always been part and parcel of defense contracts. Hence, Augusta may have been given an unfair deal, but they will have to learn to live with it. This is life!