Army deal for purchase of 197 Fennec helicopters almost clinched

The deal worth over 600 million dollars to purchase 197 AS 550C3 Fennec helicopters from Eurocopter for the Indian Army has been almost finalised, according to sources in the Defence Ministry.

New Delhi, May 23 : The deal worth over 600 million dollars to purchase 197 AS 550C3 Fennec helicopters from Eurocopter for the Indian Army has been almost finalised, according to sources in the Defence Ministry.

The helicopter, fitted with a TURBOMECA Arriel 2B turbine engine , will be primarily used for surveillance, casualty evacuation and medium transport by the army.

The successful flight test of these helicopters were conducted in hot and dry environment in Pokhran and Bhatinda and high-altitude sectors in Ladakh,over a year long period. .

The Fennec helicopters have beaten US' Bell 407 helicopters to clinch the deal with the Indian armed forces and these helicopters can be equipped with axial weapons like cannon, rocket launchers, machine guns, and anti-tank or air-to-air missiles.

A team of officials from the Eurocpoter will be meeting with the Defence Ministry officials soon to finally seal the deal.

Eurocopter is expected to supply 60 helicopters immediately to be inducted into the army, and the remaining 137 helicopters will be brought under the technology-transfer regime through Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL).

ANI