Indian Navy MRH – will it, won't it?

ROTORHUB

29th September 2014 - 21:21by Neelam Mathews in New Delhi 

Despite India’s Defence Acquisition Council having cleared the opening commercial bids for the delayed Indian Navy 16 Multi-Role Helicopters (MRH) tender on August 28, uncertainty hangs over the programme.

The two final contenders are the NHIndustries NH90 NFH and Sikorsky S-70B but indications are that domestic production will be built into the programme.

Reports from the US, where India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi is currently visiting, suggest that the Sikorsky buy could be favoured in official circles, given the fallout with AgustaWestland that led to cancellation of the AW101 VVIP helicopter procurement.

Questions also linger about the urgency of the need for the MRH given the state of the navy’s aging and depleted Sea King fleet.Adm RK Dhowan, India’s chief of Naval Staff, told Shephard: ‘The case is in its ....Read more on Shephard.com..................................