Sikorsky ready to supply VVIP choppers to India

[arnabmit]

Sikorsky ready to supply VVIP choppers to India | idrw.org

American aircraft firm Sikorsky Thursday said it was willing to provide VVIP helicopters to India as the government takes steps to scrap the existing deal with AgustaWestland.

Sikorsky, which had also bid for the Rs.3,600 crore contract to supply 12 VVIP helicopters to the Indian Air Force, is ready to supply the helicopters if the Indian government calls it to do so.

"If we are called upon as a sequel to the process, we will be more than willing to provide the solutions, more so when we are building the cabins in India," said Sikorsky's regional executive (India & South Asia) Air Vice Marshal (retd) Arvind Walia.

He was talking to reporters on the sidelines of an event to rollout first fully indigenous S-92 chopper cabin produced together by Tata Advanced Systems Limited and Sikorsky at Adibatla near here.

Sikorsky had offered its S-92 helicopters to the Air Force but the deal was won by Italian helicopter major AgustaWestland's AW-101.

Sikorsky's willingness to supply the choppers comes amid reports that the Indian government issued show cause notice for cancelling the contract after AgustaWestland's bid to seek arbitration.

Walia said Sikorsky was also looking forward to address the defence requirements of India.

"As and when government of India decides, we will be more than willing to come forward and address the requirements be it for defence applications or for commercial market," he said.

He pointed out that Sikorsky was contributing, although in a small manner, to India's stated objective of self-reliance.

 

[arnabmit]

 

[arnabmit]

First indigenous S-92 helicopter cabin by TATA Sikorsky JV | idrw.org

The India joint venture established between Tata Advanced Systems and Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation on Thursday announced that its S-92 helicopter cabin production in India has become 100 percent indigenous.

"The India operation is not only assembling cabins but also producing all parts needed for the assembly, before shipping the cabins to the U.S. for aircraft completion and customer delivery," said a press statement issued by the company. The S-92 helicopter cabin and more than 5,000 associated precision components are made at Hyderabad through a strategic collaboration between Sikorsky and Tata Advanced Systems Ltd (TASL). Sikorsky is a subsidiary of United Technologies Corp.

The Tata-Sikorsky India JV also announced the Hyderabad facility of TASL completed another significant milestone in October by producing its 50thS-92 helicopter cabin. The TASL facility now has the capacity to produce up to four cabins a month and is responsible for future design modifications, the release said.

In June 2009, Sikorsky and TASL entered into an agreement for production of S-92 helicopter cabins in India, and in November 2009, Sikorsky and TASL entered into a joint-venture for production of more than 5,000 detailed aerospace components in India, thereby establishing two manufacturing facilities in Hyderabad. Both facilities commenced production within two years of signing the agreements and today constitute an important part of Sikorsky's global supply chain. The S-92 helicopter cabins from India are shipped to the US for final assembly, and the completed helicopters are delivered to customers globally.

 

[rugved]

I hate this VIP/VVIP/lal batti culture we have in India. Why can't these netas behave like us-the aam aadmi?

 

[natarajan]

It is ideal for ambulance and for emergency rescue

 

[drkrn]

I hate this VIP/VVIP/lal batti culture we have in India. Why can't these netas behave like us-the aam aadmi?

you can't use a civilian helicopter for pm.it requires it safety ,comfort,space to work,networking capability...etc

 

[drkrn]

It is ideal for ambulance and for emergency rescue

yes.good point

 

[sayareakd]

VIP should use ALH, or we should make our own VVIP heli based on our requirement.

 

[Blackwater]

R they ready to supply $$$$$$$ bribe as well

 

[drkrn]

R they ready to supply $$$$$$$ bribe as well

no american company will.if they are found with such fraud america itself will blacklist them

 

[Blackwater]

no american company will.if they are found with such fraud america itself will blacklist them

than sorry they wont get it

 

[Armand2REP]

I am sure Eurocopter is ready to supply as well.

 

[rugved]

you can't use a civilian helicopter for pm.it requires it safety ,comfort,space to work,networking capability...etc

I can understand about the PM but what about the other ordinary MPs/MLAs/corporators?

 

[Ray]

Why can't they fly by normal helicopters?

Are they to used to luxury that normal helicopters won't do?

The money saved can be used to refurbish the ageing defence war materiel rather than these fuddled duddies having a whale of a time attending relative's weddings, covered by some fictitious official programme.

 

[drkrn]

I can understand about the PM but what about the other ordinary MPs/MLAs/corporators?

most of the times they don't need a helicopter.death of late ysr reddy,the then chief minister of AP is the main reason forcing the government to look for good heli for VIP's

 

[arnabmit]

It is not about comfort really... but special helos with radar warning receivers, MAWS & Countermeasure dispenser (chaff and flares), ECM, Jamming capabilities as well as better survivability and crashworthyness and various other Self Protection Suites.

Comfort part is only limited to leather upholstered chairs instead of canvas upholstery, and carpet instead of polymer laminate flooring. And maybe a micro pantry.

Air transports of heads of state and government - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Why can't they fly by normal helicopters?

Are they to used to luxury that normal helicopters won't do?

The money saved can be used to refurbish the ageing defence war materiel rather than these fuddled duddies having a whale of a time attending relative's weddings, covered by some fictitious official programme.

 

[DivineHeretic]

@arnabmit.

Absolutely spot on. These VVIP helis are not brought to provide comfort to them (Though at that cost, that certainly is an expected addition) but to safely transport them wherever they need to be.

Imagine the chaos if the aam admi heli carrying the PM of a nation is brought down by Kashmiri or Maoist groups. The moral of the nation and the security apparatus would be absolutely crushed, no to mention the image of the nation will take a beating like never before.

We need to understand that these transports are given and offered to the Chair held by the person, not to the person himself. The chair, the post is mantle of power.

 

[Ray]

It is not about comfort really... but special helos with radar warning receivers, MAWS & Countermeasure dispenser (chaff and flares), ECM, Jamming capabilities as well as better survivability and crashworthyness and various other Self Protection Suites.

Comfort part is only limited to leather upholstered chairs instead of canvas upholstery, and carpet instead of polymer laminate flooring. And maybe a micro pantry.

Air transports of heads of state and government - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Yes, I am aware that it is not comfort alone.

I have clocked many hours on a variety of helicopters, as also in VIP aircraft of the IAF.

The add ons against hostile fire/acts or even weather can be installed without much problems to either weight or airworthiness.

 

[Immanuel]

The S-92 seems like a better option, the whole thing would be assembeled in India anyways.