197 Light Utility Helicopter Deal

[s_bman]

197 LUH procurement - Bell Helicopter & Agusta Westland withdraw their bids

India
to carry out field trials to procure 197 LUH
Paris, June 21: India is planning to carry out field trials for procuring 197 Light Utility Helicopters (LUH) for the Army and the Air Force in August this year.

"We are planning to carry out the flight evaluation trials for the 197 LUH contract in August this year but the schedule has not yet been finalised. Five vendors are expected to come up with their helicopters for the competition," Indian Defence Ministry officials said here.

The five contenders participating in the contract include the Russian Kazan and Mil, American Sikorsky, Italian Finnmeccanica and European helicopter manufacturers Eurocopter.

The contract, expected to be worth around USD 3 billion, is one of the few defence contracts where the vendors are required to fulfill around 50 per cent offset obligations.

The offsets clause in the Defence Procurement Procedures makes it mandatory for the companies awarded such deals to invest a certain percentage of the contract's worth back in the Indian defence sector.

In March this year, all the five companies responded to the global Request for Proposal (RFP) issued by the Defence Ministry last year.

The RFP was sent to six companies, including American Bell Helicopters, but it had backed out of the race citing the high offset obligations required in the contract.

Bureau Report

 

[Daredevil]

India to carry out trials to procure 197 light utility choppers

India to carry out trials to procure 197 light utility choppers

Paris (PTI): India is planning to carry out field trials for procuring 197 Light Utility Helicopters (LUH) for the Army and the Air Force in August this year.

"We are planning to carry out the flight evaluation trials for the 197 LUH contract in August this year but the schedule has not yet been finalised. Five vendors are expected to come up with their helicopters for the competition," Indian Defence Ministry officials told PTI here.

The five contenders participating in the contract include the Russian Kazan and Mil, American Sikorsky, Italian Finnmeccanica and European helicopter manufacturers Eurocopter.

The contract, expected to be worth around $3 billion, is one of the few defence contracts where the vendors are required to fulfill around 50 per cent offset obligations.

The offsets clause in the Defence Procurement Procedures makes it mandatory for the companies awarded such deals to invest a certain percentage of the contract's worth back in the Indian defence sector.

In March this year, all the five companies responded to the global Request for Proposal (RFP) issued by the Defence Ministry last year.

The RFP was sent to six companies, including American Bell Helicopters, but it had backed out of the race citing the high offset obligations required in the contract.

The RFP was released by the Defence Ministry after it had cancelled a previous contract in December 2007 for similar type and number of helicopters.

The previous contract was cancelled by the ministry after it found that the chopper offered by Eurocopter for the field trials at that time was a civilian version whereas the company had offered a military version for the deal in its bid.

The chopper engine offered in the Eurocopter's bid was also different from the one fitted in the civilian version, which participated in the trials.

"We would be sending a military version of the helicopter for the field trials for the contract," Eurocopter vice-president Rainer Farid told PTI during the Paris Air Show.

The flight trials will test the performance of the choppers in different geographical locations including high altitude, desert and plains in different weather conditions.

Of the 197 helicopters to be procured under the contract, 133 will be given to the Army and the rest would go to the IAF.

The 197 choppers will help the two services to replace their aging fleet of over 350 Cheetah and Chetak helicopters mostly flying in high altitude conditions in air maintenance roles there and for surveillance as well as search and rescue missions.

 

[Sridhar]

PARIS AIR SHOW: Eurocopter to send AS550 for Indian trials
By Siva Govindasamy

Eurocopter will provide the AS550 C3 Fennec military helicopter for the trials in India's light utility helicopter competition, instead of the AS350 civilian helicopter that was tested in an earlier tender that was later cancelled.

The company has an AS550 with its weapons on display at Paris (below) and Norbert Ducrot, Eurocopter's senior vice-president for sales and customer relations in Asia Pacific, says that the flight tests for India's LUH competition could be begin shortly.

"This time, we have a military version of the Fennec that is ready to go on trial in India. We are waiting for the instructions and we expect the process to begin shortly. We do not know when a contract will be awarded but we are sure that we have the best product for India," he adds.

Industry sources say that the company is favoured to get the contract, given that Bell chose not to offer its 407 this time. Eurocopter was close to winning an earlier LUH tender, but New Delhi cancelled it in December 2007 after Bell and several other companies complained that the EADS subsidiary was unfairly favoured in the selection process. Some also said that Eurocopter did not follow the rules by using the AS350 instead of a military version of the aircraft during the first trials.

Eurocopter Fennec

Eurocopter, however, always denied any charges of wrong-doing. It added that the AS550 was "exactly the same" as the AS350 "in terms of airframe, systems, main gear box, rotor head, blades, engine and performances". India's former defence minister subsequently exonerated the company of any wrong-doing.

India requires 197 military light utility helicopters, of which 133 are for its army and 64 for its air force. It hopes that deliveries will begin by the end of 2010 after a year-long evaluation, although this is expected to slip. The contract could be worth up to $750 million, and the companies must reinvest 30% in India under the country's offsets policy.

State-owned Hindustan Aeronautics has been asked to develop and manufacture another 187 light utility helicopters, and the company could either do this on its own or with the help of a foreign partner.

The move comes as New Delhi aims to completely revamp its military helicopter fleets by 2020. The AgustaWestland A129, Bell AH-1Z Cobra, Boeing AH-64D Apache Longbow, Eurocopter Tiger, Kamov Ka-52 and Mil Mi-28 are in the contest for a 22-unit attack helicopter requirement, and anti-submarine warfare and naval reconnaissance helicopters are also sought. India has also ordered 80 Mil Mi-17-V5 transport helicopters, and continues to induct the HAL Dhruv Advanced Light Helicopter.

PARIS AIR SHOW: Eurocopter to send AS550 for Indian trials

 

[youngindian]

Bell Helicopters pulls out of RFP

New Delhi

July 29: The American company Bell Helicopters has decided not to participate in the Request for Proposal (RFP) process for acquisition of 22 attack helicopters for the Indian Air Force, sources have confirmed. The RFP, issued in May 2009, was the first RFP to be issued by the new UPA government in its second term in office.

"The AH-1Z helicopter model that Bell was hoping to field for the RFP process is currently undergoing operational evaluation for the US Marine corps. It will not be possible to field it and therefore Bell has decided to opt out of the RFP process. The AH-1Z helicopter model is a new upgraded helicopter and the operational evaluation process in the US is not yet over. So therefore, Bell will not be participating this time," sources said. Sources added that United States embassy in New Delhi would be informing the Indian ministry of defence about the exit of Bell from the RFP process.

A fresh RFP was issued in May 2009 after the earlier RFP — issued in 2008 to various vendors — was "withdrawn" by the MoD earlier in 2009 on the grounds that qualitative requirements had not been met.

Interestingly, Bell Helicopters had opted out of the previous RFP process as well since the Indian government had (earlier) insisted on direct sale of the equipment from it. Bell was in a position to supply the helicopters only through the foreign military sales (FMS) programme of the US government since the Bell attack helicopters are being used by the US Navy. Ironically, the government, in the new RFP, is learnt to have permitted acquisition through the foreign military sales (FMS) programme of the US government in case an American vendor is selected after the bidding process. The amendment would have now made it possible for Bell to sell its copters but this time the concerned Bell helicopter model is undergoing operational evaluation with the US armed forces and is hence unavailable.

The fresh RFP in May is believed to have been issued to five vendors, Italian-owned Agusta Westland, American companies Bell Helicopters and Boeing, the European Eurocopter and the Russian Kamov. The other American company Boeing is still in the RFP race.

The Asian Age - Enjoy the difference

 

[John]

This narrows it down and the Apache block 3 is the ideal choice, it can carry upto 79, laser guided 12km range upgraded hydra 70mm rockets in a single mission, no better Armour buster. Upto 16 Hellfires with range between 8km-12km. Can carry Mistral, Sidewinder, Stingers etc. It also has the highest operational ceiling among the contenders and block 3 variant can control upto 3 UAVS.

 

[venom]

And after trials instead of choosing the helicopter a fresh REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL will be issued because the present choppers did not meet the qualitative requirements...ha ha

 

[Tamil]

We need Larger and quickly not the outdated or going to passout mostly in the world, we buy or create new technology not older

 

[SATISH]

LUH is different from attack choppers why are we discussing it here?...and I guess the Apache will be selected..or the KA 52 Alligator(my fav)

 

[John]

LUH is different from attack choppers why are we discussing it here?...and I guess the Apache will be selected..or the KA 52 Alligator(my fav)

The Alligator is a 1 pilot helo which is riskier because flying a helo is already one of the most technically challenging jobs in the world flying one in combat is a whole different story. Apache will win.

 

[nandu]

197 Chopper Deal Threatened With Second Cancellation As Vendors Show Deviations In T

197 Chopper Deal Threatened With Second Cancellation As Vendors Show Deviations In Trials

Defence ministry copter deal faces another hurdle

The procurement of 197 reconnaissance and surveillance helicopters has run into trouble again. If reports emanating from the defence ministry are any indication, the copter purchase process will be halted and tender cancelled.

The reason cited for imminent cancellation is deviations shown by the choppers fielded by the contenders in the trials.

This will be the second time when the tender will be cancelled, the first being in December 2007. The tender was re-issued in July 2008, but after two years of government efforts to take the process ahead, it will meet the same fate. With the helicopter inventory of the Army diminishing, procurement of these choppers is critical for operational necessity and defence preparedness.

The defence ministry had prepared ground for cancellation of the Rs3,000-crore deal tender in 2007 when the Central Vigilance Commission asked it to explain the cancellation following an objection by former national security advisor MK Narayanan.

The report indicated that the procurement process did not follow set guidelines. The fresh global tender went to five companies namely the Russian Rosoboronexport (ROE) for Kamovs, two manufacturers from the US — Bell and Sikorsky, European consortium's EADS' Eurocopter and Anglo-Italian Agusta Westland. Only three firms Eurocopter, ROE and Augusta Westland qualified for trials.

The helicopter model offered by Eurocopter was unable to perform high altitude hover-out-of-ground-effect (HOGE). The problem with ROE's Kamov was that the engine to be fitted on Kamov 226T will be Arrius 2G1 which is not yet certified. While Agusta Westland, was facing serious problems with the MoD due to misunderstanding on a nomenclature issue.

The new helicopters will replace the aging 1970s vintage Chetaks and Cheetahs, and will be for high altitude, surveillance and logistics.

http://chhindits.blogspot.com/2010/05/dna-197-chopper-deal-threatened-with.html

 

[thakur_ritesh]

i think the raksha mantralay has firmed up its mind on not doing a foreign procurement on this one, and they might just have feelers of HAL LUH/LOH being completed much earlier than has been revealed thus far, because now with this scrapping there will be re-tendering the process of which will take atleast 2 years coupled with testing and negotiations which will further take 2-3 years which would possibly mean a deal by 2014-15 and HAL has promised the first flight of HAL LUH by 2015 and deliveries by 2017.

PS : is mantralay a marathi or a hindi word?

 

[Armand2REP]

Growing tired of excuses. We all knew the purpose of Dhruv development was to replace the need for foreign light helicopters. Why even waste time with these charades?

 

[nandu]

197 Light Chopper Competition Hots Up, Summer Trials Start Next Week

With winter trials and maintenance evaluation trials (METs) done, India's $600-million Reconnaisance & Surveillance Helicopter (RSH) competition enters the third phase next week, involving summer trials. The three helicopters involved in the trials -- the Eurocopter Fennec (See photo from Leh trials in February), the AgustaWestland AW119 and the Kamov Ka-226T. The summer trials are to be completed by June. Eurocopter goes first, followed by Kamov.

http://livefist.blogspot.com/2010/05/197-light-chopper-competition-hots-up.html

 

[nandu]

PHOTOS: Eurocopter Fennec During Light Chopper Trials In India

http://livefist.blogspot.com/

 

[mehrotraprince]

Light helicopter race heats up, Augusta out

The race for 197 new light helicopters that will be the mainstay of the Army and IAF for lifting supplies to high altitude military locations has heated up with one of the three contenders virtually out of the reckoning after failing to bring in the correct variant of the chopper for trials.

While sources in the Defence Ministry say that Augusta Westland, which brought a civilian version of the helicopter instead of the military chopper it mentioned in the proposal, is virtually out, the other two contenders, Russia's Kamov and Eurocopter have begun the first round of summer trials this week.

Sources said Augusta Westland, which has already won a contract to supply 12 VVIP helicopters, has not been called for the latest round of consultations between the Armed forces and vendors. At the last meeting between Army's technical officers and the vendors in Bathinda on Saturday, only officials from Kamov and Eurocopter were present.

While both Kamov and Eurocopter are said to be performing equally well in the trials, the window is still open as no clear winner has emerged. Sources said that Augusta Westland would be informed about the reason for their disqualification. After the summer trials, the Army will prepare a detailed technical report on the performance of the two machines that will be considered by the MoD.

http://www.indianexpress.com/news/light-helicopter-race-heats-up-augusta-out/619487/

 

[mehrotraprince]

Kamov Ka-226T

Eurocopter Fennec

 

[Armand2REP]

We are going to let Russia sell the Ka-226T with Turbomeca engines while competing against our own helicopters?

 

[Agantrope]

Light helicopter race heats up, Augusta out

The race for 197 new light helicopters that will be the mainstay of the Army and IAF for lifting supplies to high altitude military locations has heated up with one of the three contenders virtually out of the reckoning after failing to bring in the correct variant of the chopper for trials.
While sources in the Defence Ministry say that Augusta Westland, which brought a civilian version of the helicopter instead of the military chopper it mentioned in the proposal, is virtually out, the other two contenders, Russia's Kamov and Eurocopter have begun the first round of summer trials this week.
Sources said Augusta Westland, which has already won a contract to supply 12 VVIP helicopters, has not been called for the latest round of consultations between the Armed forces and vendors. At the last meeting between Army's technical officers and the vendors in Bathinda on Saturday, only officials from Kamov and Eurocopter were present.
While both Kamov and Eurocopter are said to be performing equally well in the trials, the window is still open as no clear winner has emerged. Sources said that Augusta Westland would be informed about the reason for their disqualification. After the summer trials, the Army will prepare a detailed technical report on the performance of the two machines that will be considered by the MoD.

http://idrw.org/?p=1673

 

[Agantrope]

We are going to let Russia sell the Ka-226T with Turbomeca engines while competing against our own helicopters?

Dont worry Armand, Fennec will be the winner as the Augusta is out

 

[Armand2REP]

Dont worry Armand, Fennec will be the winner as the Augusta is out

I am not worried of winning, we already won the last time. I am worried of GoI cancelling the tender like they did before. This deal has already been delayed by 3 years. India could have had a 100 Fennecs by now.