21 December 2012

News story: Chopper deal - (Indian) Def Min asks vendors to extend commercial offer

KA-226 (Wiki Info - Image: Wiki Commons)

NEW DELHI (PTI): In view of delays in the tender to procure 197 light helicopters, Indian Defence Ministry has asked the two vendors in the race for the multi-billion dollar deal to extend the validity of their commercial offer.

"One of the firms, Europe's Eurocopter has told the Ministry that "in absence of any visibility regarding the finalisation of the case, we are unable to grant a further extension to our commercial offer'," defence sources told PTI.

The other company in the over 48-month-old tender is Russia's Kamov, which is offering its Ka-226 Sergei choppers.

The 197 light helicopters are being procured for the Army and the IAF to replace their fleet of vintage Cheetah/Chetak fleet of choppers, which are critical for providing supplies to troops deployed in Siachen Glacier and other high altitude areas.

Read the full story at Brahmand