The Hindu Business Line : Eurocopter hopeful of supplying choppers to Army

The European helicopter manufacturer, Eurocopter, is still hopeful that the contract for supplying 197 helicopters to the Indian Army would be completed during the forthcoming visit of the French President, Mr Nicolas Sarkozy, to India early next year.

“I am always optimistic,” the Senior Vice-President, Sales and Customers Relations, Asia-Pacific, Mr Norbert Ducrot, said at a press conference here on Tuesday when asked whether the contract would be concluded during the visit of the French President.

The statement comes days after the Indian Government announced that it was cancelling the request for proposal for supply of 197 light utility helicopters and would be issuing fresh tenders soon.

‘No official statement’

Eurocopter officials maintain that they had “not been informed” nor “had any reason been given” for the cancellation of the contract.

“To my understanding, there has been no official statement regarding the cancellation. We have held a lot of discussions on the offset clause connected with the contract and have also agreed to transfer of technology to Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd,” Mr Ducrot, added.

Company officials claimed that they had their last contact with the Ministry of Defence a week back.

In an official statement, the company has said that it was selected after a “demanding and thorough evaluation survey” led by the Ministry of Defence and the Indian Army.

“The helicopter presented during the trials is identical to the one proposed to the Indian Army. Technical offers have been duly evaluated by a committee comprising the Army and Ministry of Defence,” Mr Ducrot said.

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