Boeing vying for IAF deal: Pentagon

Pentagon has notified the US Congress that Boeing will participate in trials of 22 attack helicopters, from which the Indian Air Force will choose aircraft for a $1.4billion-purchase.
Pentagon justified the notification saying if Boeing wins the contract, advance information would help implement the deal at the earliest.

Besides the 22 attack helicopters, also in the pipeline are 10 heavy-lift helicopters, including the American Chinook and Russian Mi-26.

Defence minister AK Antony informed parliament earlier this month that all capital acquisitions are processed as per the defence procurement procedure, which provides 20-34 months for finalisation of such major capital procurements. The minister also said that Russian medium-lift helicopters, the Mi-17 V5, meant to replace the existing Mi-8 and Mi-17 helicopters of the IAF are likely to be delivered by March 2011.

The defence security cooperation agency (DSCA) has informed the US Congress about America’s intentions of deepening defence cooperation with India, which includes the likely sale of AGM-84L Harpoon Block-II missiles to the Indian Navy. According to Washington, the missile would augment the capability of an aircraft in effectively securing critical sea-lanes of communication.