Italian Contract Clouds Indian Helicopter Plans
AIN DEFENSE PERSPECTIVE » NOVEMBER 9, 2012 by NEELAM MATHEWS Deliveries to India of AW101s may be delayed because of procurement irregularities. (Photo: AgustaWestland) November 9, 2012, 2:10 PM As India’s Ministry of Defense awaits a response from the Italian government on alleged irregularities in the award of a contract for 12 AgustaWestland AW101 VIP transport helicopters, the fallout from this affair may scupper the much larger reconnaissance and surveillance helicopter ( RSH ) program. The Eurocopter AS550C3 Fennec and Kamov Ka-226T are the final contenders for the 197-aircraft RSH program, which has already been delayed. Reports of malpractice in the AW101 contract emerged in Italian newspapers earlier this year. AgustaWestland parent company Finmeccanica denied the allegations, but the Indian MoD started an investigation. In a further statement released ...