Boeing Eyes Indian Prospects

New Delhi: Boeing has decided to bid on India’s programs to purchase 22 combat helicopters and 15 heavy-lift helicopters.
Proposals for the combat helicopters are due Sept. 22, and the deadline for the heavy-lift helicopters is the next day.
This is the second time India has issued a tender for attack helicopters. The first tender — issued in May 2008 — was scrapped in March by the government. Neither Bell Helicopter nor Boeing participated in that effort. Bell has said it will not participate in the new competition.Meanwhile, the way is now clear for the implementation of the $2.1 billion contract for India to buy eight Boeing P-8I long-range maritime reconnaissance aircraft. The technical assistance agreement for the contract has now been worked out, according to Vivek Lall, head of Boeing Integrated Defense Systems in India.
The contract for eight P-8I aircraft was signed on Jan. 1. Following the recent visit of U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton here, the controversial defense technology end-use monitoring agreement between India and the U.S. has been finalized as well, making the going smoother.
17/08/09 Neelam Mathews/Aviation Week

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Categories: Foreign Aug 2009