For a large number of European companies, either already executing air, surface or naval projects with the Indian defence agencies, or waiting for the finalization of deals, some of which have reached the final negotiation state, the Defexpo 2014 is providing an opportunity to announce their intent to work closely with Indian companies as per the revised Defence Procurement Process which focuses on make or buy Indian.
Rainer Farid of Eurocopter, while talking to The Hindu, said the biennial exhibition is providing major defence players a platform to display their expertise. “We are looking at the replacements for Chetak and Cheetah for the Army through our Fennec choppers. We have already proved our compliance through field trials twice in both the high altitude of Himalayas and the plains. But since 2010, we have been waiting for the move on.”
Similarly, he said the company has pitched its AS 565 Panther multi-role chopper for the 56 Naval Utility Helicopters -- for search and rescue missions -- which the Navy and Coast Guard require. It is also eyeing India’s Naval Multi-Role Helicopter (NMRH) contract for 125 gunships. This project is at the Request For Inquiry (RFI) stage and consultations with vendors are on.
Incidentally, Airbus is also looking at attack and heavy helicopter space. Incidentally, Boeing had been selected for the supply of 22 Apache attack helicopters and for the supply of 15 Chinook heavy helicopters, but the deal is not yet signed.
Christian Scherer of Airbus Defence and Space is in India for Defexpo as his company has been “strongly focused on the Indian market”. It has also been selected to provide the Indian Air Force’s new tanker aircraft – our A330 Multi Role Tanker Transport.
However, here again the deal is not yet closed. “Well, naturally we would like matters to be concluded as soon as possible; it has been an exceptionally long campaign,” he said.
Simultaneously, Airbus is also eyeing the replacement of the very old Avro transports that the Indian Air Force operates for general passenger and cargo purposes. The force is looking at procuring 56 aircraft. “They have asked for responses to the request for proposals next month and we will be offering our C295 aircraft. It is the market leader in it its class and it is famous for being able to handle tough, hot and dusty operating conditions.”
Apart from this, Airbus is also interested in the Coast Guard’s need for a new maritime surveillance aircraft and an indigenous airborne warning and command aircraft (AWACS).
With the Navy in the midst of a major modernization drive, a number of submarine and torpedo manufacturers working with it are also participating in the exhibition.
One of them is the French major DCNS which is executing the Scorpene submarine project at the Mazagaon dock in Mumbai. While the company is known for its Barracuda class nuclear submarines, the six Scorpenes being manufactured are conventional but can be converted into nuclear vessels through some modifications as barring the power source, the remaining vessel is similar to a nuclear vessel.
A company official Marie-Laure Belle said the first of the six submarines is scheduled to be commissioned in September 2016 and thereafter one would be rolled out every year.
DCNS is also eyeing the Navy’s requirement for four Multi Role Support Vessel programmes and has pitched its Mistral amphibious vessel for it. Incidentally, this is also the first ever vessel to be sold by France to Russia.
