Sikorsky ready to supply VVIP choppers to India

Hyderabad, Oct 24: American aircraft firm Sikorsky Thursday said it was willing to provide VVIP

to India as the government takes steps to scrap the existing deal with AgustaWestland.

Sikorsky had earlier offered its S-92 helicopters to the Air Force

Sikorsky, which had also bid for the Rs.3,600 crore contract to supply 12 VVIP helicopters to the Indian Air Force, is ready to supply the helicopters if the Indian government calls it to do so.

"If we are called upon as a sequel to the process, we will be more than willing to provide the solutions, more so when we are building the cabins in India," said Sikorsky's regional executive (India & South Asia) Air Vice Marshal (retd) Arvind Walia.

He was talking to reporters on the sidelines of an event to rollout first fully indigenous S-92 chopper cabin produced together by Tata Advanced Systems Limited and Sikorsky at Adibatla near here.

Sikorsky had offered its S-92 helicopters to the Air Force but the deal was won by Italian helicopter major AgustaWestland's AW-101.

Sikorsky's willingness to supply the choppers comes amid reports that the Indian government issued show cause notice for cancelling the contract after AgustaWestland's bid to seek arbitration.

Walia said Sikorsky was also looking forward to address the defence requirements of India.

"As and when government of India decides, we will be more than willing to come forward and address the requirements be it for defence applications or for commercial market," he said.

He pointed out that Sikorsky was contributing, although in a small manner, to India's stated objective of self-reliance.