Tuesday, March 24, 2009

Govt cancels tenders for 22 IAF attack helicopters

NEW DELHI : Tenders for purchase of 22 attack helicopters for the Indian Air Force (IAF), issued in May last, has been cancelled, Defence Ministry
sources said on Fresh tenders for the helicopters will be issued soon, the sources said.

"The Request for Proposals (RFP) for the 22 attack helicopters have been cancelled, as the three offers received from foreign defence companies did not meet the Staff Qualitative Requirements set by the government. We will issue fresh RFP for the platform soon," the sources said.

With this, the IAF's plans to operationalise the 22 attack helicopters beginning 2010 would be hit considerably and could be delayed beyond 2012, they said.

The Defence Ministry had issued an RFP to buy the 22 attack helicopters at a cost of USD 25 million per platform, including weapons, to boost the IAF's surveillance and combat capabilities.

The RFP was sent to AgustaWestland, Boeing, Eurocopter, Khazan and Bell Helicopter. However, the government received replies from only three companies for the 2.5 tonne twin-engine helicopter.

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