India scraps 600-million-dollar helicopter deal

[Titanium]

India scraps 600-million-dollar helicopter deal

Dec 6, 2007

NEW DELHI (AFP) — The Indian government scrapped on Thursday a 600-million-dollar deal to buy 197 military helicopters after allegations of corruption in the bidding process.

"The government has decided to cancel the RFP (request for proposal) for 197 helicopters for the army. A fresh RFP will be issued soon," defence ministry spokesman Sitanshu Kar told AFP.

A fresh global tender will be issued early in the new financial year, which begins in April, an official of the policy-making Defence Acquisition Committee (DAC) said, speaking on condition of anonymity.

The deal was awarded to Eurocopter, the helicopter unit of the European Aeronautic Defence and Space Company (EADS), which makes civil and military aircraft, in February 2007

 

[Titanium]

Kahani main twist, now after some armtwisting

Eurocopter denies India helicopter deal cancelled, says talks ongoing UPDATE

Eurocopter denies India helicopter deal cancelled, says talks ongoing UPDATE
December 18, 2007: 07:29 AM EST

(Adds Eurocopter statement talks still underway, more background)
NEW DELHI, Dec. 18, 2007 (Thomson Financial delivered by Newstex) -- EADS unit Eurocopter said it has not received any 'official' cancellation of a 600 mln usd contract from India to supply 197 army helicopters and that talks with the defence ministry are continuing.

'There has been no official announcement of the cancellation,' Eurocopter vice president Norbert Ducrot told reporters in New Delhi. 'We have no official information.'
'We are still talking with the Defence Ministry,' Ducrot said. 'We are at the price negotiation stage.'
'We have not received any confirmation of a cancellation,' said Michel Boivin, economic advisor to the French embassy in India.

Officials at India's defence ministry said Monday EADS was set to protest India's cancellation of the contract, after a ministry spokesman told Agence France-Press on Dec 6 that the deal had been scrapped because of unspecified 'irregularities'.

In June, the contract-award process was suspended amid allegations from rival bidder Bell Industries Inc (AMEX:BI) of a conflict of interest involving a defence official on the Indian award committee.

Eurocopter has denied this and said today, 'EADS and Eurocopter ... scrupulously follow the French and European rules governing these matters.'

 

[Awesome]

Stop over-dramatizing your thread titles.