The country?s light helicopter maker, state-owned Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), may have hit a jackpot in Latin America. After having sold its advanced light helicopter (ALH) Dhruv to Peru and Ecuador, HAL is looking to secure orders from more countries in that region, including Bolivia.
According to highly placed sources in the ministry of defence (MoD), Bolivia will soon confirm its order to buy five ALH Dhruv shortly. ?Latin America could be a good hub for the sale of the ALH.?
So far, countries like Ecuador (seven for $ 51 million) and Peru (ambulance version) have already procured the machine. The aircraft has been priced around Rs 40 crore apiece, 10-15 per cent lower than similar machines in its class. After these two international orders, India is now part of the elite group of countries with a capability to bid for international contracts for helicopters. Till now, the international market was dominated by the US, the European companies and Russia.
Many of the prospective buyers who have expressed interest in the indigenously developed machine are air forces from Latin America, Africa, West Asia, South East Asia and a few Pacific Rim nations. Air forces from around 35 countries have sent in their inquiries, along with requests for demonstrations.
It maybe recalled that HAL?s previous attempts sell the light helicopter to countries like Myanmar and Chile failed to come through on account of political pressure or competitor lobbying. Last year, in what was expected to be a big deal in the international market, the ALH which was shortlisted by the Chilean army for 8-10 machines, lost the deal to the American company Bell Helicopters.
According to sources, though the price offered was competitive, the bid was lost to US-based Bell Helicopters
The contract with the Nepal Air Force is said to have run into rough weather when ?technical problems? were detected in one of the two ALHs sold to the country in 2004.
The Dhruv is available in different configurations and is easily adaptable for any role. By the end of the year, the Indian Army is set to take delivery of an armed version of the the ALH.
Recently, the MoD silently endorsed the ALH Dhruv at a two visit of the defence minister AK Antony to the Line of Control (LoC). ?We are committed to encourage our defence establishments in the indigenous production of aircraft, helicopters, and other equipment to achieve self-reliance and face challenges in defending the country,?sources said.
The DPSU in its recent meeting with the defence minister had said it has big plans for focusing on the helicopter business and for this purpose plans are afoot to to set up a new helicopter division in Bangalore.
The interiors of the ALH ambulances to be delivered to Peru will be sent to Europe, as HAL is in talks with a few companies specialising in interiors and other accessories required by heli-ambulances.
?The reason for interiors being done in Europe is that there are no firms in India specialising in heli-ambulance interiors,? a HAL source added.
The company is also exploring the domestic market for the medical version of the helicopter and is currently in discussions with major speciality hospitals in the countries, and with the DGCA declaring 2008 as the year of helicopters? there is a chance that HAL will get a share in the domestic pie, said sources.