US-based
chopper manufacturer Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation, part of United
Technologies Corp, and Tata Advanced Systems Limited (TASL) have applied
for a defence licence to manufacture components and assemble
helicopters for use by the Indian Navy, according to Steve Estill,
vice-president (strategic partnerships), Sikorsky.
"The
licence will pave the way for us to set up an assembly line in this
country. We will decide on our plans once we hear from the Ministry of
Defence. We expect our application to be cleared from the ministry in
the second quarter of this financial year," he told mediapersons here on
Monday.
L&T
and Mahindra & Mahindra are among the other big Indian companies
that have received licences in the past to manufacture defence
equipment.
India liberalised the defence industry in 2001, allowing 100 per cent
participation by the private sector with foreign direct investment
permissible up to 26 per cent, both subject to licensing and security
clearance.
The Sikorsky-TASL contract was formed in 2009 to make helicopter
cabins for the US company. Both the companies had also signed an
agreement to create a joint venture that will manufacture aerospace
components for Sikorsky in India, including components for S-92
helicopter cabins. TASL has 74 per cent shares in the JV. The JV broke
ground last year and started producing over 4,000 parts and
sub-assemblies for rotary and fixed-wing aircraft from this March 6 from
its facility on the outskirts of Hyderabad .
According to Arvind Walia, executive vice-president (India and South
Asia), Sikorsky, the company was among the two firms to be shortlisted
by the ministry to supply 16 multi-role choppers to the defence sector.
"We expect to be L1 for this contract, which is pegged at about $1
billion. The only other manufacturer to be shortlisted is a European
company called NH Industries. We have completed all formalities as far
as the flight evaluation trials are concerned. We hope to here from the
ministry a firm date for opening of commercial bids in the next two
weeks," he said.
Walia said the naval multi-role helicopter contract was under the
'buy and make (Indian)' category, which allowed private sector companies
to bid and hold the primary contract, and that the programme was at the
RFI (request for information) stage.
"We have provided the information and Sikorsky has no hesitations in
addressing this requirement of this country for the 'buy and make'
category. Our aim would be to bid locally. We can rename our
Tata-Sikorsky JV so it will be a local company bidding in the next round
for the Navy," he said.
Meanwhile, the Tata-Sikorsky S-92 helicopter cabin manufacturing
facility here is doubling its production to 26 units annually from this
month on the back of growing demand.
"Right now, the cabins that we make here are fitted with all
components produced by Sikorsky-Mitsubishi's Japan facility, which is
being closed down in a phased manner. Within a year, the Hyderabad
facility will use completely indigenous components for its cabins,"
Walia said.
Sikorsky had so far delivered S-92 choppers globally. S-92, a
tricycle-configured chopper with a nose wheel, costs around $22 million.
The company expects to sell around 120 units worldwide over the next
two years.
"The Indian commercial and military helicopter markets are set to
touch $8 billion and $33 billion respectively over the next 25-30 years,
to become the second largest chopper market in the world after the US.
We hope to sell at least two units in the commercial market here, if not
more, this year," Estill said.
No comments:
Post a Comment