..:: India Strategic ::. Agusta Westland to deliver VIP helicopters from 2012 to IAF

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Editorial

Agusta Westland to deliver VIP helicopters from 2012 to IAF

By Our Correspondent

Published: July 2011

Paris. Close on the heels of having taken delivery of Business Jets for VVIP travel, India will receive the first batch of the 12 helicopters for transportation of VIPs by next year.

Agusta Westland, which won the contract to supply the helicopters, has begun commencement of the assembly of the first two at its facilities in Europe.

During the Paris Air Show at Le Bourget, Agusta Westland officials said the programme is a prestigious order for the company that has a long presence in India. ´´We have started assembling the first two helicopters and would be soon moving to begin work on interior design. The helicopters are being made in batches of three and two batches would be delivered by next year,`´ Bruno Spagnolini, its Chief Executive Officer said.

Delivery of entire fleet should be completed by 2013.

Last year, the Indian Air Force (IAF) ordered the three-engine AW101 helicopters from Agusta Westland for Euro 560 million (approximately Rs. 3,700 crores) that besides protection suites include product support for five years. The helicopter would be operated by the elite Indian Air Force Communication Squadron and would replace the current fleet of Soviet/ Russian Mi 8 and Mi 17 rotorcraft.

Eight of the new helicopters would be configured for VVIP use, and the rest for support personnel and cargo.

The helicopter was selected after field trials whose results were evaluated by the IAF and the Special Protection Group, responsible for protection of the Prime Minister and select political leaders. It was chosen over American Sikorsky S92 Superhawk and is considered to have been picked up to have features that suited requirements by the security. On his part, Company Senior Vice President Roberto Garavalia said that the entire fleet should be handed over by 2013.

Agusta Westland, which is part of the conglomerate Finmeccania, supplied Seaking helicopters to the Indian Navy four decades ago and is eyeing both the growing commercial market besides the requirement for the Armed Forces. It has proposed models such as AW119, AW109 Light Utility Helicopters, AW 139, and NH-90 for various roles.

The company has been working for a joint venture with the state-run Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL) for military segment and the Tata group for civil sector requirements.

Chairman Ratan Tata of the Tata group, which is India’s biggest industrial conglomerate responsible for introducing civil aviation, road transport, nuclear medicines and steel in India, was at the Paris Air Show to hold discussions with global defence and civil aerospace leaders.

Finmeccania India country head Paolo Girasole told a group of visiting Indian newsmen that the company visualises a Euro 10 billion market for 600 military helicopters over the next 10 to 15 years besides upgrades of existing fleet of Seaking and Kamov helicopters in India.

It has pitched NH90 for Indian Navy requirement for 16 helicopters for which field evaluation trials are scheduled to be held later this year.