Boeing bids for $2 billion IAF helicopter tender
23 Oct 2009
New Delhi: The Boeing Co has said it has submitted two proposals to the Indian Air Force (IAF) for the supply of attack and heavy-lift helicopters in a deal which is potentially worth at least $2 billion. The proposal is in response to a tender announced by the IAF for the supply of 22 attack and 15 heavy –lift helicopters.
Boeing has offered the AH-64D Longbow Apache attack and the CH-47F Chinook heavy-lift helicopters.
The Indian armed forces have launched a massive drive to modernize their equipment and warfare systems trying to phase out largely Soviet-era equipment from their inventories.
"The Apache will be a capable and lethal defender of India's troops and assets, while the Chinook will answer many of the country's military and humanitarian needs," Vivek Lall, vice president and India country head for Boeing Integrated Defense Systems, informed the media on Friday.
"We have no idea of the timeline and how long will it take as we have just submitted our proposals," Lall told Reuters.
Boeing has already been contracted to by the Indian Navy to supply eight P-8I maritime reconnaissance and airborne warning aircraft in a deal worth $2.1 billion.
