Tenders for Navy copters expire
Two years after Navy issued tenders for purchase of 16 multi-role helicopters worth $1 billion, a deal is not in the pipeline since bids from two competing global manufacturers have expired.
Defence ministry sources said on Thursday that the commercial bids from American Sikorsky and British-Italian AgustaWestland expired last month and the ministry was considering asking them to revalidate their existing offers or revise their prices.
“Yes, the commercial tenders for the MRH from the two companies have expired and we now intend to ask them to revalidate or revise their offers,” the sources said. The Navy’s tenders (Request for Proposals or RFP in defence parlance) was issued in August 2008 and the two firms responded to the bids, while another European manufacturer did not submit its offers. The commercial bids were valid for 18 months. Industry sources said the two firms would respond to the defence ministry’s request for revalidation or revision of their bids, if asked to.
Sources said the Navy was yet to carry out the Flight Evaluation Trials for the two contenders — Sikorsky’s S-70B SeaHawk and AgustaWestland’s NH90 — for the contract, though technical evaluations were completed.
The Navy urgently needs the MRH to replace its aging SeaKing fleet inducted in 1970. It had 40-odd SeaKing choppers in its air wing, but the numbers have come down to about 30 helicopters due to mishaps.
The MRH’s primary role would be anti-submarine warfare and anti-surface warfare, while its secondary role would include search and rescue, cargo carrying and casualty evacuation.
The RFP for the 16 MRH was initially issued in early 2006, but the tenders were cancelled two years later and reissued in 2008.
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BJP: UPA has ‘defamed’ Indian culture
AGE CORRESPONDENT
New Delhi
Continuing its tirade against home minister P. Chidambaram for using the phrase “saffron terror,” the main Opposition BJP on Thursday said the UPA has “defamed” Indian culture by connecting the colour with terrorism.
Speaking on the issue, BJP chief Mr Nitin Gadkari said, “The UPA government is now defaming Indian culture by connecting the symbol of Indian culture, saffron colour, with terrorism. The BJP will not allow this conspiracy to succeed.”
The party also claimed that home minister’s statement on saffron terror was an outcome of the ongoing game of oneupmanship between senior Congress leaders.
“We urge the Congress that because of inner conflict and gross oneupmanship they must not shame the saffron which represents the civilisational and cultural heritage of India, the spirit of valour and finest values of our freedom struggle,” BJP chief spokesperson Mr Ravishankar Prasad said.
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