Africa | America | Asia | Australasia | Europe | India | Middle East | UK | US

Indian Army's advice on Bell-407, Eurocopter accepted

Posted : Thu, 15 Mar 2007 15:47:01 GMT
By : Indo Asian News Service
Category : India (World)
News Alerts by Email ( click here )
India World News | Home
New Delhi, March 15 The trials of the Bell-407 and Eurocopter helicopters have been completed and the defence ministry has accepted the Indian Army's recommendations on the two machines, parliament was informed Thursday.

'The government has received a trial report of Bell-407 and Eurocopter AS 350 B3 helicopter to be incorporated in the Indian Army,' Defence Minister A.K. Antony said in a written reply in the Lok Sabha.

'The trials have been completed and the general staff evaluation of the trial report approved by the Indian Army has been accepted by the ministry of defence,' he added.

There was no indication which machine had got the nod.

Informed sources said the details would be revealed only after negotiations between New Delhi and Washington were concluded, as the sale would be governed under the US law on foreign military sales.

The Indian Army has projected a requirement for a helicopter that can carry loads of up to 75 kg heights of 23,000 feet on the Siachen Glacier in Jammu and Kashmir. Flying at these heights poses unique challenges due to the rarefied atmosphere. The 197 helicopters the army proposes to purchase are meant to replace it's ageing fleet of Chetaks and Cheetahs, some of which were inducted more than three decades ago.

The army, which had issued its request for information (RFI) in 1999, had shortlisted the Bell-407 and the Eurocopter in its request for proposal.

The two machines underwent a series of extensive trials in the Siachen Glacier and the deserts of Rajasthan, where they will primarily be deployed.

According to an official, the army wants to buy 60 helicopters outright with the remaining 137 being licensed manufactured by state-owned Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL).


(c) Indo-Asian News Service

Share/Save/Bookmark

Article : Indian Army's advice on Bell-407, Eurocopter accepted
Print this article
Email this article

Stay Updated
News gadget on your Google homepage
Subscribe to a news feed in Google Reader


Related News

Dalai Lama calls Chinese protests on visit baseless - Summary
New Delhi - Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama said Sunday his visit to India's north-eastern Arunachal Pradesh, which China considers a disputed region, was non-political and China's charges against him were baseless. My visit to Tawang is non...

Dalai Lama begins visit to India's disputed Arunachal Pradesh
New Delhi - Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama arrived Sunday to a resounding welcome at the monastery town of Tawang in India's eastern state of Arunachal Pradesh, which China considers a disputed region. Thousands of maroon-robed monks and loc...

16 killed in Nepal as bus falls from mountain
Kathmandu - At least 16 people were killed and more than two dozen injured Sunday when a passenger bus plunged off a mountain highway in western Nepal, police said. The bus fell about 250 metres off the narrow highway in the Arghakhanchi district, ab...

Arunachal to host Dalai Lama despite China's protests - Feature
New Delhi - The remote town of Tawang in India's eastern Arunachal Pradesh was preparing Saturday for a much-awaited visit by the Dalai Lama that has stirred a hornet's nest in India-China relations. The Tibetan spiritual leader is set to embark on a...

Sri Lanka speeds mine-clearing to hasten resettlement of displaced
Colombo - The Sri Lankan government will step up its mine- clearing efforts in former rebel-held areas in the northern part of the country to resettle 159,000 displaced persons before the end of January, Foreign Minister Rohitha Bogollagama said Thur...

India, EU ink nuclear pact, aim at trade treaty by 2010 - Summary
New Delhi - India and the 27-member European Union Friday signed an agreement on a nuclear energy project and decided to conclude a free-trade pact within a year. Issues such as climate change, the global financial crisis and energy security featured...

30 killed as bus plunges into gorge in India - Summary
New Delhi - At least 30 people were killed Friday when an overcrowded passenger bus fell into a gorge in India's mountainous northern state of Himachal Pradesh, news reports said. The bus skidded off a highway and plunged into a 30-metre gorge in Kan...

Have your Say
Name
Email
Subject
Your Comment

Enter Verification code
 
  

 

 

More India (World) News click here
Follow The Earth Times
Subscribe to RSS Follow Earth Times on TwitterNews by email
Share/Save/Bookmark

 
 



 
Subscribe to free Earthtimes
News Alerts by Email Click here
For RSS Feeds Click here
or Create your own RSS

Add to Google Toolbar
Breaking News
Press Releases

 


The Earth Times
News Category

© 2009 www.earthtimes.org, The Earth Times, All Rights Reserved | Privacy Policy
Earth Times accept no responsibility or liability either directly or indirectly for views or opinions expressed in articles or comments.