US helicopter manufacturer Sikorsky is actively pursuing defence deals with the Indian Navy to cater to its requirement of multi-role helicopters. The firm is offering the S-70B through the direct commercial sale route. Simultaneously, the US Air Force has responded to the Indian Navy?s RFP for a $1 billion multi-role helicopter with the Lockheed Martin-Sikorsky MH-60R.
?This is to meet the requirement for 16 helicopters to replace the aging Sea King multi-role helicopters. In addition to this, Sikorsky is also in dialogue with the Indian Coast Guard to meet their specific requirements and has responded to their RFI that was sent out for leasing helicopters,? Steve Estill, vice-president, strategic partnerships, told FE on the sidelines of DefExpo 2010 in New Delhi. The Indian coast guard is keen to lease around 10 helicopters and Sikorsky will be financing the lease, he added.
Acknowledging that India is a fast-growing market and is of high importance to Sikorsky, the company official said, ?We want to keep bringing the best of technologies to India and are positive about meeting the requirements of the Indian armed forces and will continuously pursue opportunities here.?
As a direct commercial sale, the firm is offering the S-70B Seahawk and the MH-60R as foreign military sales under the US Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA). ?The MH-60R comes with the interaction of the US government,? said Estill.
In 2008, Sikorsky sold the S-76 commercial helicopter to four customers in India and was seeking partners to build S-92 airframes. ?Our partnership with the Tata for the S-92 cabins is a testimony of our commitment towards the Indian market and we do hope to be able to make a breakthrough with the defence forces as well.? Under the joint venture, Tata advanced Systems Ltd (TASL) will manufacture aerospace components for Sikorsky in India, including components for S-92 helicopter cabins at their facility located in Hyderabad. The joint venture agreement builds upon a long-term contract signed in June 2009 to enable TASL to assemble Sikorsky S-92 helicopter cabins.
The first India-made airframe of the Sikorsky S-92 medium-lift helicopter will be handed over to the US firm in November and there is the distinct possibility of the entire helicopter being manufactured in this country at some stage?the first instance of a major aviation activity in the private sector. From Hyderabad, the airframes will be sent to the Sikorsky headquarters in Connecticut, where the engines, avionics and interiors will be installed before the helicopter is delivered. ?We have drawn up a road map for the future and a lot of activities are planned up to 2013-15. Eventually, the entire helicopter could even be produced in India,? he explained.