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| March 2010 Issue |
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New Wings
Field trials for the Indian Navy’s 16 multi-role helicopters to commence in the coming summers
By Vidhi Upadhyay |
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New Delhi: The field trials for the Indian Navy’s requirement of 16 multi-role helicopters, which will replace its ageing fleet of Sea King helicopters, shall commence in the coming summers. “Of what we have come to know from our interaction with the navy officials today, we should hopefully have the official word about the field trials in the next few weeks following which we will have the ‘no cost, no commitment’ trials in June,” Ron Christenson, VP, international business development told FORCE. Lockheed Martin has proposed either Florida or California ranges for the same, which has the same environment like the one in which the helicopters would be operating in India and will also give the officials a chance to view the training process as well, Christenson said. Following the trials in June, the contract could be signed by later this year or early next year.
Claimed to be the only contending aircraft which is being offered through the direct Foreign Military Sales route, the biggest USP for the aircraft is that it has the full backing of the US Navy. The MH60R will provide the Indian Navy with an opportunity to partner with US Navy on interoperability and system upgrades, which is a part of the FMS route as well, Christenson said, adding that the initial training and support will be provided by the US Navy’s pilots at their facilities. With the experience of USN backing the multi-role helicopter, its costs are known and predictable. Besides the IN, the coast guard has also issued an RFI for two different types of aircraft, the ones to be operated from small ships as well as 14 shore-based, twin-engine ones and in both the roles this copter is compliant. |
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