Defence ministry copter deal faces another hurdle

[jha]

Defence ministry copter deal faces another hurdle


New Delhi: 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.



Defence ministry copter deal faces another hurdle - dnaindia.com

 

[KEETARP]

Shiv Aroor reports differently.
Acc to him everything is oK and winter trials were completed , and now Hot summer trials will start in few days.

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.

Link-
LiveFist - The Best of Indian Defence: 197 Light Chopper Competition Hots Up, Summer Trials Start Next Week

 

[jha]

^^^ so much inconsistency in reports...one says everything is okay while in other just the opposite...however may SHIV ARROR be right this time...i am sick of never ending trials ...

 

[KEETARP]

You can trust Shiv aroor , Vishnu Som , Ajay shukla they are very good Defence journalist with inner reach in armed forces . They can be trusted.

Now this lady - From the link you posted is also doing fine job, Suman Sharma is well known for accuracy of info , so i am also confused a bit.

If you go by V.thakur's theory , there is every chance that certain company may be planting false info to help its sale .
Suppose tender is cancelled and for next time trials Eurocopter and Kamov are not invited if india wants fast purchase and goes for FMS route- Who will gain maximum ( Yes Bell and Boeing ).
But this pure speculation on my part - Lets wait for Shiv to clearify.

 

[jha]

Yeah, lets wait n watch...BTW i wouldn't mind if Boeing wins through FMS if this is the only way to get them fast.