News Story: Indian Navy launches hunt to acquire 110 helicopters in $5B deal

Kamov Ka-226T (Image: Wiki Commons)

By: Vivek Raghuvanshi

NEW DELHI — The Indian Navy has begun its process of acquiring 110 light utility helicopters after rejecting Russia's Kamov Ka-226T, which are being built for the Air Force and Army, according to a Ministry of Defence official. 

"The Kamov 226T does not have blade folding and cannot be fitted inside a ship's hangar. Moreover, it is not suitable to carry the torpedoes, which is the mandatory requirement," said an Indian Navy official. 

The light utility helicopters, or LUH, will be procured under the strategic partnership policy India's government approved last month, under which a private-sector defence company will be selected as a strategic partner, which, in turn, will tie up with an overseas original equipment manufacturer, or OEM, shortlisted by the MoD. 

In the next two months, an expression of interest will be given to domestic companies, including Bharat Forge, Reliance, Larsen & Toubro, Mahindra Aerospace and Tata Advanced Systems. The domestic companies will partner with overseas OEMs to compete for the contract worth $5 billion. 

Read the full story at DefenseNews

News Story: S. Korean Navy deploys 4 more Wildcat choppers

An AW159 Wildcat Helicopter (File Photo)

By Lee Chi-dong

SEOUL, July 5 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's Navy said Wednesday four additional AW-159 shipborne anti-submarine helicopters have joined a front-line fleet for combat operations.

The Navy acquired eight AW-159 choppers, also known as Wildcats, last year in two batches in June and December, respectively. The first four were deployed in February.

"The remaining four were deployed at a front-line fleet and put into maritime operations today," the Navy said in a statement. It did not reveal the location, but a defense source said the new assets will operate near the tense western sea border between the two Koreas.

The twin-engine rotorcraft is armed with lightweight torpedoes, 12.7-mm machine guns and advanced anti-ship guided missiles.

Read the full story at YonhapNews

News Story: Navy deploys newest war vessel near Marawi

BRP Tarlac sister ship to BRP Davao del Sur (File Photo)

By Roel Pareño

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines — The Philippine Navy is deploying its newest landing dock BRP Davao del Sur (LD602) in Cotabato to be used as instrument by military forces in battling the Islamic State-inspired militants in Marawi City, an official said here.

The 404-footer supply and operation ship, constructed by the Indonesian state-owned shipbuilder PT PAL, made a two-day port call in the city. It will also deliver military logistics, supplies for soldiers and relief goods for the displaced civilians of Marawi.

Rear Admiral Rene Medina, commander of Naval Force Western Mindanao (NFWM), visited the ship docked at the Zamboanga port. He said its presence will help secure the coastal water in the Cotabato area while it serves as staging pad of the Augusta Westland attack helicopters.

“Its presence will boost the security in the area,” Medina said.

There were reports that members of the Maute and Abu Sayyaf groups who led the Marawi siege may slip and find its way out of the besieged city, by using the seawaters of Cotabato towards the island provinces.

Read the full story at PhilStar

News Story: Indian Black Shark torpedo deal for Navy might be revived

By: Vivek Raghuvanshi

NEW DELHI — Italy's Whitehead Sistemi Subacquei S.p.A., a subsidiary of Leonardo, might be reconsidered to supply Black Shark torpedoes for French Scorpene submarines currently being built in India, according to sources in the Indian Ministry of Defence.  

This follows observations made by India's attorney general on the legality of issuing tenders and its subsidiary defence companies, which are facing probes on charges of alleged corruption. 

In June of last year, MoD announced the cancellation of a $200 million deal for Black Shark torpedoes, but MoD sources said the tender was not formally cancelled and that no intimation of the cancellation was conveyed to the Italian company. 

Whitehead Sistemi Subacquei S.p.A., or WASS, was declared the winner over Atlas Elektronik of Germany in 2014 in a global tender to supply Black Shark torpedoes to be mounted on the six French Scorpene submarines licensed produced by state-owned Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Ltd. 

Although WASS  emerged  as  the  lowest  bidder against Atlas Elektronik, the contract could not be signed because in August 2014, the government put a ban on signing the contracts in the wake of the probe into the VVIP  helicopters scam relating to AgustaWestland, another subsidiary of Leonardo.

Read the full story at DefenseNews

Industry: Pakistan strengthens helicopter fleet renewal with additional AW139s order

An AW139 (File Photo)

• Further AW139s for utility, SAR and EMS with deliveries starting in early 2018
• The AW139 proves the preferred choice for a number of military and government customers around the world
• Bestseller helicopter with over 1000 units sold to more than 250 customers in over 70 nations and nearly 900 units in service to date

Leonardo announced today that the Government of Pakistan has signed a new order for an undisclosed number of additional AgustaWestland AW139 intermediate twin engine helicopters. The aircraft will be used to perform utility, SAR (Search and Rescue) and EMS (Emergency Medical Service) operations across the nation. Deliveries are expected to start in early 2018.

The contract is a further step towards the completion of fleet renewal programmes spread over several batches plus logistic support and training. This event is a major achievement for Leonardo expanding the already successful presence of the AW139 model in the country. A fast growing fleet of AW139s is already in service in Pakistan, with several units operated by the Pakistan Government for relief and transport duties. The AW139 is the perfect fit to Pakistan’s operational environment, delivering outstanding capabilities and hot & high performance unmatched by any other existing helicopter type in the same class.

Leonardo

News Story: Navy’s incoming attack copters will be armed with Israeli missiles

AW159 Wildcat with integrated SPIKE NLOS missiles

The Philippine Navy (PN)’s first two anti-submarine warfare (ASW) helicopters will be armed with Spike NLOS missiles giving it a capability to engage hostile vessels beyond visual range.

The said weapon manufactured by Israel’s Rafael Advanced Defense Systems Ltd. NLOS is short for “non-line of sight”. It was originally designed to destroy tanks.

PN spokesperson Capt. Lincuna said these helicopters are the AgustaWestland AW-159 “Wildcats” which are scheduled to be delivered by 2018.

AgustaWestland  AW159 Wildcat with Torpedoes

The Department of National Defense signed a contract with AugustaWestland, now Leonardo, to buy two AW-159 ASW helicopters for PHP5.362 billion, last year.

It will be deployed aboard the two frigates the Philippines has ordered from South Korea worth PHP16 billion.

Read the full story at Tankler

News Story: PAF positioned to procure 36 more FA-50s, 12 Leonardo AW109 helicopters

Philippines Air Force (PAF) FA-50 Fighter Aircraft

As a continuation of Philippine Air Force’ (PAF) medium-term modernization program, PAF is positioned to procure additional 36 FA-50s to meet a requirement specified in Flight Plan 2028 and 12 more AW109 Power light attack helicopters produced by Finmeccanica (Leonardo from January 2017), reports IHS Jane’s.

Securing orders of additional light combat aircraft and attack helicopters are included in the several procurement priorities, a senior PAF officer said before the Asian Defence and Security 2016 (ADAS 2016) exhibition in Manila.

After the delivery of the initial 12 aircraft, the official also confirmed that the PAF would look to secure government approval for the additional FA-50s.

Read the full story at Tankler

News Story: Indonesian Air Force Review Clears AW101 Helicopter Purchase

EH101/AW-101 Merlin

by Chris Pocock

Leonardo's recent delivery of an AW101 helicopter to the Indonesian air force (Indonesian acronym TNI-AU) has sparked a public controversy in that country. Marshal Hadi Tjahjanto, the current TNI-AU commander, told the Indonesian news agency Antara on February 8 that he was investigating the purchase of three AW101s that was made in late 2015 by his predecessor, Marshal Agus Supriatna, who has since retired. But nine days later, Hadi told Antara that the purchase was in order.

Leonardo did not announce the sale. A spokesman for the company told AIN that there were several AW101 contracts “where the customer does not want us to perform any publicity.”

Until this acquisition, helicopters for the Indonesian armed forces had been exclusively supplied by the state-owned Indonesian Aerospace company (Indonesian acronym PTDI, previously IPTN) from its factory at Bandung. PTDI has a long-established industrial collaboration agreement with Airbus Helicopters. By the end of 2016, PTDI had delivered 34 Airbus Puma/Super Puma/Caracal helicopters to the TNI-AU that were completed at Bandung. It had similarly completed and delivered 63 Bell 412s for the Indonesian Army.

In an earlier report on the AW101 acquisition on December 3, 2015—shortly after it was agreed—Antara quoted chief cabinet secretary Pramono Agung as saying that Indonesian President Joko Widodo did not approve of the purchase. Pramono’s comment came after a meeting to discuss defense equipment in the president’s office. Pramono told Antara then, that the AW101s were intended for use as VIP transports.

 The cabinet secretary added that the AW101’s “price was considered too high”, and that the helicopters in current use by the Indonesian air force for VIP transport were adequate. These are NAS-332 Super Pumas from the Bandung factory. The AW101s would be costing $55 million each, it was said.

Read the full story at AINonline

News Story: Russian Helicopters in talks with India for 200 aircraft

Image: Wiki Commons

by Ryan Maass

Russian Helicopters is in talks with the government of India for the potential sale of 200 helicopters to support various security roles.

Representatives for the state-owned defense enterprise say both parties are finalizing the terms of the contract. Under the current draft, 140 of the rotorcraft will be built in India.

The remaining 60 will be supplied by the company's existing facilities in Russia.

"We are now discussing terms and conditions for the contract and copter configuration," Russian Helicopters deputy CEO Igor Chechikov told Indian media.

"We expect to produce more helicopters from India, given the country's demand for a wide range of defense and security related equipment."

Read the full story at SpaceDaily

News Story: Another twist in Indonesia's puzzling AW101 helicopter buy

EH101/AW-101 Merlin

By: Mike Yeo

MELBOURNE, Australia — The strange saga of Indonesia’s acquisition of the Leonardo AW101 helicopter has taken a stranger twist, with photos showing the first delivered aircraft in a hangar surrounded by police tape. 

The Indonesian military is investigating how a deal that should have been cancelled ended up with the delivery of the first helicopter in early February, with the new chief of Staff of the Indonesian Air Force, Air Marshal Hadi Tjahjanto, telling local media the fate of the helicopter has yet to be decided. 

Tjahjanto added that the helicopter is currently stored in a hangar at the Indonesian capital of Jakarta’s Halim Perdanakusuma air base pending the completion of the investigation. 

The Air Force had requested the acquisition of three AW101s for Very Very Important Person duties, or VVIP, in November 2015, even though Indonesia’s Defense Industry Act obliges the military use locally manufactured defense equipment whenever possible.

State-owned aerospace company PT Dirgantara Indonesia manufactures components for the Airbus H215 Super Puma and H225 Caracal helicopters and has carried out final assembly of both types for the Indonesian armed forces, although then-Air Force Chief of Staff Air Marshall Agus Supriatna had said the late delivery of Super Pumas in 2014 and its inability to meet Air Force requirements disqualified the company from supplying the VVIP helicopters. 

Read the full story at DefenseNews

News Story: Final Batch of AW159 Wildcat Maritime Helicopters Delivered to ROK Navy

UK Royal Navy AW159 Wildcat

AgustaWestland (Leonardo Helicopters) delivered the last batch of four AW159 Wildcat maritime helicopters to the Republic of Korean Navy (ROK Navy) in late November. The ROK Navy selected the Wildcat to meet its Maritime Operational Helicopter requirement and signed a contract for eight units in January 2013. A first batch of four helicopters were delivered in July this year.

The AW159 is a new generation multi-role military helicopter that is now replacing Lynx helicopters in service with the Royal Navy and British Army. The AW159 has a semi-rigid rotor head which gives it high agility and the same legendary ship operating capabilities of the Lynx helicopter. It is also fitted with composite rotor blades utilising the same technology that enabled the Lynx to break the world helicopter speed record. The AW159 is powered by a pair of LHTEC CTS800-4N engines, each providing up to 1,361 shp, which gives the aircraft exceptional performance, even in hot and high environments. The engine installation also incorporates exhausts with built in IR suppression to provide increased survivability. The AW159 has the most modern integrated cockpit of any naval helicopter, featuring four large area (10” x 8”) cockpit displays and a fully integrated avionics suite and mission system to provide increased mission capability and increased crew effectiveness.

Read the full story at Navy Recognition

News Story: India's former Air Force chief gets bail in chopper scam case

AgustaWestland EH101/AW-101 Merlin

NEW DELHI, Dec. 26 (Xinhua) -- An Indian court Monday granted bail to India's former Air Force chief S.P. Tyagi, who was arrested earlier this month by the country's premier probe agency over allegations of corruption in a luxury helicopter deal with an Anglo-Italian company.

The special judge of the Central Bureau of Investigation's (CBI) court, Arvind Kumar, released Tyagi, a decorated war veteran, on a personal bond of 200,000 Indian rupees (3,000 U.S. dollars) and one surety of the same amount.

But the court has imposed certain riders on Tyagi's bail like restraining him from leaving Delhi and asking him not to attempt to influence any witnesses in the case that can hamper the CBI probe. Two other accused in the same case have, however, been denied bail by the court.

Read the full story at Xinhua

News Story: Italy Orders Retrial in India Helicopter Kickback Case

By: Tom Kington

Italy’s supreme court has ordered a retrial for Giuseppe Orsi, the former CEO at Leonardo-Finmeccanica, who was sentenced to four and a half years in April for his alleged role in helicopter contract kickbacks in India. 

The decision means the supreme court found procedural errors in the April conviction, and has effectively voided that verdict, requesting a new trial take place. 

The charges related to a 560 million euro deal to sell 12 AW101 helicopters to India in 2010, when Orsi was head of Agusta Westland, then a unit of Italy’s Finmeccanica, which is now known as Leonardo-Finmeccanica. 

The twists and turns of Orsi’s legal odyssey since then are symptomatic of Italy’s lengthy and often convoluted three stage justice system. 

Read the full story at DefenseNews

News Story: Former Indian Air Force Chief Arrested in AgustaWestland Copter Deal

AgustaWestland EH101/AW-101 Merlin

By: Vivek Raghuvanshi

NEW DELHI — A former Indian Air Force chief, Air Chief Marshal Shashindra Pal Tyagi, was arrested on Friday by the Central Bureau of Investigation for alleged corruption in the purchase of 12 AW 101 VVIP helicopters from AgustaWestland, a subsidiary of Italy's Leonardo-Finmeccanica.

Along with Tyagi, Delhi based lawyer Gautam Khaitan and his cousin Sanjeev Tyagi also were arrested, "on the allegations accepting illegal gratification for exercising influence through corrupt and/or illegal means," according to the government.

In January 2014, MoD officials canceled the €546 million helicopter contract inked in 2010 with the Anglo-Italian company on charges of corruption, referring the case to the CBI.

India's Defense Minister Manohar Parrikar, during a debate in Parliament in April this year, said the request for proposals for the deal had been diverted to favor AgustaWestland.

Read the full story at DefenseNews

News Report: India’s Selective Nod to Blacklisted Defense Firms

India has partially reversed its policy of not doing business with defence companies suspected of unethical behavior. A banned firm can supply products if there is no available alternative to its weapon system or equipment.

New Delhi (Sputnik) — India has adopted a flexible blacklisting policy that permits business with certain banned firms and their subsidiaries.

Defense Minister Manohar Parrikar said a top official will prepare a list of all firms blacklisted in the past. "That does not mean they will be taken out [removed from the blacklist]. Don't interpret… they will be examined. What is the status, how many years they have been blacklisted for and why they were blacklisted?'' Parrikar said. 

The new policy is a mixture of heavy fines and graded banning. It allows other subsidiaries to do business if one of them has been charged with violating the moral code. This problem arise when all group companies of Finmeccanica were banned after its helicopter subsidiary was implicated in a bribery scandal. As a result of this blanket banning, Indian Navy was deprived of torpedoes contracted with another Finmeccanica company. 

News Story: No Timeline Put Aside to Lift Ban on Blacklisted Defense Companies

By: Vivek Raghuvanshi

NEW DELHI — Even after the public release of its new blacklisting policy, India's Ministry of Defence (MoD) has not set a timeline for lifting the ban on those defense companies already blacklisted, with a top MoD official saying that in "some cases" the blacklisted status may continue. 

The MoD on Monday released its new policy, "Guidelines of the Ministry of Defence for Penalties in Business Dealings with Entities," meant to ensure that scrutiny and transparency exist in future defense deals. 

Under the new guidelines, current blacklisted companies that are under investigation, as well as former blacklisted businesses, will be examined and a new grading system of penalties will be determined, the MoD official noted. 

Read the full story at DefenseNews

News Story: India Changing Policy on Blacklisting of Foreign Defense Companies

By: Vivek Raghuvanshi

NEW DELHI — India will not implement blanket blacklisting of foreign defense companies charged with corruption under a newly finalized policy that likely will be made public this month, said an Indian Ministry of Defence (MoD) official. 

Since 2005, India has blacklisted six overseas companies from operating here in response to allegations of corruption while doing business in the country. Instead of blocking a business from defense deals, India will impose an economic penalty on the company. 

The MoD official would not say if those companies already blacklisted will be allowed to participate in future defense projects after the new policy is enacted. However, the official did say the MoD is in favor of allowing those companies to participate in defense projects so long as they agree to deferred prosecution. The official would not expand on this approach. 

The ruling government believes the blanket blacklisting policy, which was used by the previous United Progressive Alliance government, led to shortages of ammunition and artillery guns and hampered the acquisition process, according to the official.

Read the full story at  DefenseNews

News Story: Air Force to convert another ‘Sokol’ helicopter into SAR platform

In line with its disaster response missions, the Philippine Air Force (PAF) announced that it is converting another of its W-3A “Sokol” combat utility helicopter, this time tail number 922, into a search-and-rescue (SAR) aircraft. It has allocated PHP31,451,000 for the acquisition of spareparts and other materials needed for the SAR reconfiguration project.

Bid submission and opening is on Nov. 8, 9 a.m. at the PAF Procurement Center Conference Room, Villamor Air Base, Pasay City.

Read the full story at Update.PH

News Story: PAF wants additional 36 FA-50s, 12 Leonardo AW109 helicopters

Leonardo AW109 Power

As a continuation of Philippine Air Force’ (PAF) medium-term modernization program, PAF is positioned to procure additional 36 FA-50s to meet a requirement specified in Flight Plan 2028 and 12 more AW109 Power light attack helicopters produced by Finmeccanica (Leonardo from January 2017), reports IHS Jane’s.

Securing orders of additional light combat aircraft and attack helicopters are included in the several procurement priorities, a senior PAF officer said before the Asian Defence and Security 2016 (ADAS 2016) exhibition in Manila.

Read the full story at Tankler

Industry: Pakistan chooses again the AW139 for its Transport and EMS requirements

Leonardo (AgustaWestland) AW139

Bestselling helicopter with over 960 units sold to more than 240 customers in more than 70 nations and over 830 units in service to date 

Leonardo-Finmeccanica announced today that the Government of Pakistan has signed a contract for an undisclosed number of AW139 intermediate twin engine helicopters to be used for transport and EMS missions.

This event sets a major milestone for Leonardo and further expands the already successful presence of the AW139 and other models in the Country.

Pakistan is one of several nations who have chosen or are already operating the AW139 for a range of government roles including Italy, Ireland, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar and Thailand to name a few.

The new generation AW139 sets new standards in the market with advanced technology and class leading performance, reliability, safety, versatility and cabin space. The aircraft has outstanding one engine inoperative capabilities, even in hot and high operating conditions, making it ideally suited to operate in harsh high temperature and high altitude environments. The advanced integrated cockpit minimises pilot workload, allowing the crew to concentrate on mission objectives. Almost 240 customers from over 70 countries have ordered over 960 AW139 helicopters making it the best-selling helicopter in its class. The AW139 can perform a wide range of roles including government missions, EMS, SAR, executive/private and government transport, law enforcement, utility and offshore transport. Over 830 AW139s are in service worldwide.

Leonardo