Airbus, Sikorsky for Indian partners |
Airbus Helicopters is talking to Indian companies including Mahindra & Mahindra, Reliance Industries and the Tata Group to jointly make military helicopters to comply with rules aimed at helping the local defense industry. The company, part of Airbus Group, is offering to build its light utility AS550 Fennec and the medium lift EC725 for the armed forces, which are heavily dependent on an ageing fleet of Cheetah and Chetak helicopters. Foreign contractors used to selling directly to New Delhi must now form partnerships with local companies and transfer more of the work to bolster India`s `Make in India` policy. The government last year scrapped the planned acquisition of 197 light utility helicopters so that it could launch a new competition reserved for domestic companies that form joint ventures with foreign suppliers. Other firms including US-based Sikorsky Aircraft and Russian Helicopters are also expected to bid for the order.
|
|
|
|