Ready to provide VVIP choppers to India: US-based manufacturer Sikorsky

BENGALURU: United States-based helicopter manufacturer Sikorsky, which made an unsuccessful bid to supply its S-92 choppers to India, today said it was ready to provide VVIP transport helicopters whenever the government chooses to re-tender them.

"If and when the Indian government chooses to re-tender the VVIP (transport helicopters), we will be ready, and we know we have the solution-aircraft in the world, which is going to be for the long time the best executive transport," a top official of United Technologies Company, parent company of Sikorsky, told reporters on the margins of the Aero India 2015 here.

Sikorsky, which pitched its S-92 helicopter but lost to AgustaWestland in the initial tender, was ready to take part once again, Vice President (Defense Systems and Sevives) Robert Kokorda said.

India had cancelled the deal for 12 VVIP helicopters with Italian defence group Finmeccanica's AugustaWestland unit last year over an alleged scam in the deal. These helicopters are used to carry high-ranking officials.

Kokorda said, "We have the finest VVIP helicopters on planet and we fly heads of states in many countries. India and the leadership of the country deserves to have the finest VVIP transportation," he said.

To replace its Russia-made Mi-8 aircraft, India needs such helicopters as it has modified some of its Mi-17 helicopters for VVIP missions.

Asked about the countries Sikorsky is exporting S-92 helicopter cabin to, President of Sikorsky Military Systems Samir Mehta said the company has already exported almost 100 cabins to other countries, ranging from the US, Europe, Middle-East and Asia.

"We have already exported almost 100 cabins to other countries, ranging from the US, countries in Europe using S-92 for offshore oil, other heads of state - both in middle-East and Asia," Mehta said.

Asked about the update on supplying 16 multi-role helicopters to the Indian Navy, Kokorda said the company is in negotiations with the Contract Negotiations Committee. "We are clearly in negotiations with the CNC," he said.

"The company has to go through the process reaffirming the commitments it made in that proposal, and also making sure that everything remains current," Kokorda added.

Kokorda, however, gave CNC credit for doing a very diligent work, making sure it is being done thoroughly, he said. "I give CNC a lot of credit. They are doing a very very diligent job, making sure it goes through very thoroughly," he added.

He said there was an urgent need for the helicopter and felt the programme was being supported at the ministerial level to get things done urgently and thoroughly.

"We know that there is urgent need for this helicopter and I think its been expressed publicly, and certainly at the ministerial level the programme has been provided support with. So, there is ongoing dialogue. There is significant amount of time being spent by our teams to not only do we move quickly, but also accurately," he said.