Obama's chopper to have India-made cabin

Bengaluru, Feb 20: US President Barack Obama will soon fly in a new helicopter whose cabin has been made in India. US helicopter manufacturer Sikorsky had entered into an agreement with TATA Advanced Systems in 2009 for the manufacture of cabins for the company's S-92 helicopters, which is used by a number of VVIPs in the world including the US President.

The 100th cabin under this deal would be delivered soon, Samir Mehta, President of Sikorsky's military systems, told reporters here at the Aero India show.

Sikorsky helicopters had last year secured a multi-billion dollar contract to replace the entire presidential fleet with 21 new helicopters.

The helicopter used by Obama is S-92. Asked if it would be Indian cabins that Obama will fly in, Robert Kokorda, Vice President of Sikorsky's Defence Systems and Services replied in the affirmative.

"All cabins for S-92 are now built in Hyderabad. And hence, the cabin for Obama will also come from here," he told PTI.

PTI