Indecision Delays Delivery Of Indian Transport Aircraft

Aerospace Daily
Jan 21, 2011
PROGRAMS

Jan 20, 2011


 

By Neelam Mathews NEW DELHI

Delays in India’s acquisition process are hurting the critical needs of its homeland security forces, with a program to supply transport aircraft for border security caught up in a turf battle. A contract for the supply of two Airbus Military C-295M transport aircraft for the Border Security Force (BSF) is in limbo after contract discussions were disrupted last October because of indecision on whether the aircraft should receive civil or military certification. If the decision is made in favor of civil certification, the BSF will be the owner. If it is made in favor of military, it will be under the management of the Indian air force. The 2008 request for proposals stated the military version should come with a weather radar, emergency locating transmitter and survival equipment. Airbus Military was the lowest bidder and was invited for contract negotiations in August of last year. Its competitor was Finmeccanica’s C-27J, while a third bidder, the Antonov An-26, did not qualify. While the C-295 is civil certified, the C-27J is not. “The RFP clearly states the aircraft should be of a military version,” one defense official says. “Why should a paramilitary force like BSF just buy aircraft to ferry people [on missions that] can be done using civil aircraft? Are the aircraft required to meet operational requirements of the BSF or to appease its pilots and engineers lobby that can fly only civil certified aircraft?” The deal recently came under fire following a “leaked” media report that wrongly called it a $300 million contract — it is worth $70 million — and said requirements were changed through false signatures. “The weather radar claimed by the media to be downgraded [follows the] specification of the tender and [was] approved by the evaluation committee last year, of which BSF was a signatory,” a senior official associated with the bid told Aviation Week. The BSF currently has one Avro under operation that has a civil certification . C-295M photo: Airbus Military