Sikorsky hepter for the Indian Navy

The Indian Navy has, apparently, alighted on the US-built Sikorsky MH-60R helicopter for seaborne anti-submarine and anti-surface warfare operations for the Indian fleet to replace the British-produced Sea King, supposedly some 44 units as first tranche with another 14-22 possibly in the pipeline. This was preferred to the British Augusta-Westland number. Many knowledgeable persons have raised doubts related mainly to the possibility of a U.S. veto on its uses and on integrating the Brahmos with this platform which will require classified info about this Indo-Russian cruise missile to be disclosed to Sikorsky. One would think this would breach some understanding or the other we have with the Russians. This is a worry and one wonders what the MoD-GOI have in mind to do about it. About the other worry about the US playing hooky with spares and service support in wartime and grounding these hepters. That too is a worry. But the Augusta-Westland item would have been similarly vulnerable, as the Sea Kings were, because of their American components. The Navy has apparently to take these risks. But will there be any tech-transfer in this deal or just straightforward cash transfer?

2 Responses to Sikorsky hepter for the Indian Navy

Ravi says:

July 14, 2012 at 1:14 pm

First, NH Industries is a conglomerate of Eurocopter of France and Germany, Agusta of Italy (AgustaWestland) and the Dutch Stork Fokker Aerospace. Next, the Seaking episode after POK-2 was a British-US decision. Third, the Sikorsky (as reports indicate are 53 million USD/unit) is far more expensive than the NH-90. The Germans have found some difficulties with the NH90 such as clearance, etc. However, on average, Indian sailors and soldiers are shorter than their German counterparts. This of course is not saying that any information won’t be leaked to the US concerning the BrahMos, or that sanctions wont be imposed, etc. But that’s the price the Indians have to pay for deliberately and maliciously suppressing their indigenous aerospace industries.

puls stacja says:

July 17, 2012 at 1:21 am

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