New Delhi: India will have to fast-track the long-pending approvals for 22 Apache attack and 15 Chinook heavy-lift helicopters if it does not want a major cost escalation in the two deals currently worth around $2.5 billion.
US aviation major Boeing on Friday obliquely warned of a price hike if India did not close the two deals for its two iconic helicopters soon. "We are awaiting the Indian government's decision. We have extended the validity of our commercial bids when asked (in the past). But there is a point beyond which we cannot (hold the price line) due to inflationary pressures," Boeing India chief Pratyush Kumar said.
As was first reported by TOI, the AH-64 Apache gunships and the CH-47F Chinooks had outclassed their Russian rivals, Mi-28 Havocs and Mi-26s, in extensive field trials held by IAF since the entire competition began around five years ago.
But the final commercial negotiations with Boeing have since then proceeded at a slow pace, with the already much-extended validity of its bids slated to finally end on March 31. The "approval process" for the two chopper deals is currently with the defence ministry's finance department.
14/02/15 Times of India
To Read the News in full at Source, Click the Headline
US aviation major Boeing on Friday obliquely warned of a price hike if India did not close the two deals for its two iconic helicopters soon. "We are awaiting the Indian government's decision. We have extended the validity of our commercial bids when asked (in the past). But there is a point beyond which we cannot (hold the price line) due to inflationary pressures," Boeing India chief Pratyush Kumar said.
As was first reported by TOI, the AH-64 Apache gunships and the CH-47F Chinooks had outclassed their Russian rivals, Mi-28 Havocs and Mi-26s, in extensive field trials held by IAF since the entire competition began around five years ago.
But the final commercial negotiations with Boeing have since then proceeded at a slow pace, with the already much-extended validity of its bids slated to finally end on March 31. The "approval process" for the two chopper deals is currently with the defence ministry's finance department.
14/02/15 Times of India
