Indian government scraps acquisition of utility helicopters

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India’s Defence Ministry on Friday cancelled a controversial tender offer for 197 helicopters that had been put on hold over allegations of corruption, a military source told dpa.helicopter

The country’s Central Bureau of Investigation has been probing allegations that an army brigadier sought bribes to secure the contract for British-Italian company Agusta Westland.

European Eurocopter and Russia’s Kamov were also competing for the 60-trillion-rupee (991-million-dollar) deal.

The 197 light utility helicopters used for ferrying troops and supplies to high altitude areas were to have replaced the Indian Air Force’s ageing fleet of Cheetah and Chetak choppers inducted 40 years ago.

A fresh tender would be announced to produce the helicopters within India, the source said.

This is the second time in seven years that the tender has been scrapped.

At the meeting headed by Defence Minister Arun Jaitley where military officials decided to scrap the deal for 197 helicopters, they also cleared a proposal to buy 16 multi-role helicopters for the Navy.

US company Sikorsky and Europe’s NH Industrie are in the running for that bid, the military source told dpa.

Several defence purchases had been pending under the former United Progressive Alliance government led by Manmohan Singh after a string of corruption scandals.

A quick upgrade of the defence sector was one of the poll promises made by Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party in the run-up to general elections.

 

 

GNA
PDC

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