Defense-Aerospace reports that eleven of India’s private sector companies among which are Tata Advanced Systems, Bharat Forge, Mahindra Aerospace, Reliance Defense & Aerospace and L&T, have responded with proposed joint ventures for the co-development of three types of foreign helicopters – AS565 MBe of Airbus, Bell Helicopters-429 and Super Lynx 300 of AgustaWestland. The armed forces are planning to acquire over 1,000 helicopters of different types in the next 10-15 years, thereby creating a “Make in India” business opportunity for an estimated $2 billion in the country’s aerospace sector.
A tender for the purchase of over 100 naval utility vehicles for the navy is currently being vetted. The Army and Indian Air Force require 384 light-utility helicopters, and the navy is looking for anti-submarine warfare with torpedoes and missiles.
Officials say the ‘Buy & Make (Indian)’ categorization of the light-utility helicopters has the potential to generate $ 6.4 billion worth of business to the domestic industry.
