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BUSINESS AVIATION P24

M

ilitary and parapublic sales

opportunities in Asia could

see Airbus Helicopters expand its

industrial presence in the region,

the rotorcraft manufacturer says.

“There are quite a number of

opportunities going on in the

region – almost all countries will

renew and expand their fleets,”

says Philippe Monteux, head of

the airframer’s Southeast Asia

business.

By far the most lucrative pros-

pect is India, which is seeking

large numbers of helicopters

across multiple weight classes

and for a variety of applications.

The furthest advanced is for New

Delhi’s coastguard, which has pro-

visionally selected the H225M

Caracal for a 14-aircraft require-

ment. If a contract is finalised,

deliveries will begin around 2018,

says Monteux.

TORTUOUS PROCESS

Negotiations are “progressing”, at

“the speed of India”, he notes,

referring to the country’s tortuous

acquisition process. More recent-

ly, this has been complicated by

the “Make in India” initiative,

which seeks considerable technol-

ogy transfer and local content as

an offset in all contracts.

Last July, Airbus Helicopters

announced it would work with

Mahindra Defence “to develop the

concept and create a joint venture

in India capable of producing heli-

copters”, says Monteux. This pact

covers three types, and all could

be assembled locally if selected.

But in one case, Airbus

Helicopters is offering significant-

ly more: if successful in its bid for

the navy’s proposed acquisition of

utility helicopters, it is promising

to transfer production of its candi-

date AS565 to India.

“If we are the winning party, it

will be our worldwide production

[site] for the Panther,” Monteux

told Flight International at last

month’s Singapore air show.

Other opportunities include

light scout and naval multirole

helicopters, for which the compa-

ROTORCRAFT DOMINIC PERRY SINGAPORE

Indian demand is a big draw for Airbus

Potential deal with nation’s coastguard could be first step towards European manufacturer strengthening presence in Asia

ny is, respectively, pitching the

H125M Fennec and H225M.

Although Kamov’s Ka-226T

has been selected for a 196-unit

deal as part of a light scout re-

quirement for the air force and

army, Monteux believes India

could still consider the Fennec –

not least because it may need as

many as 800 helicopters to fully

serve this role.

The Caracal, meanwhile, is

vying for a multirole tender for up

to 125 aircraft. If selected, and

final assembly is localised, this

would be the third production

line globally for the 11t-class ro-

torcraft, after France and Brazil.

Indonesia operates six H225Ms

for combat search and rescue

(CSAR) missions, and could seek

further examples for similar trans-

port/CSAR operations, says

Ludovic Boistot, president direc-

tor of Airbus Helicopters

Indonesia. The incumbent sup-

plier will, however, face competi-

tion from the AgustaWestland

AW101. Also speaking at the

show, Daniele Romiti, the head of

Finmeccanica Helicopters, said

Jakarta had expressed interest in

his company’s platform.

Airbus Helicopters has a strong

industrial presence in Indonesia,

through its long-standing relation-

ship with national aerospace

champion PTDI. This produces

fuselages and tail booms for all

variants of the H225, and per-

forms installation and integration

of mission equipment for the

Indonesian armed forces.

“That’s why we really believe

in this strategy,” says Boistot. “We

are transferring both knowledge

and content to Indonesia.”

This strategy could also play

into its hands if Indonesia decides

to procure presidential transport

helicopters. Last year, its air force

indicated a plan to buy three

AW101s for the role, but president

Joko Widodo reportedly axed the

purchase on cost grounds and a

lack of local content.

“We hope that national indus-

try will be preferred choice for the

president,” says Boistot.

Additional opportunities come

in the parapublic sector, where the

national police recently began re-

placing an elderly rotary-wing

fleet, primarily of licence-built

Messerschmitt-Bölkow-Blohm

Bo-105s, with an order for two

Bell Helicopter 429s.

Existing customer Basarnas –

Indonesia’s national search and

rescue agency – could also require

“one to two helicopters per year”,

he suggests.

ORDERS HOPE

Airbus Helicopters also hopes

Kuala Lumpur will return with

orders. The Royal Malaysian Air

Force operates 12 H225Ms, and

Monteux believes an additional

15 could be needed. However,

with the Malaysian economy driv-

en by oil, he cautions budgets are

in flux.

Meanwhile, the airframer is

ushering into service helicopters

for Thailand.

The Royal Thai Air Force has

received four of six H225Ms, and

the Royal Thai Army 11 Fennecs

and six UH-72A Lakotas via the

US government. Deliveries of six

H145s are due to begin shortly.

And in 2017, the Royal Thai Navy

will receive its first H145M. The

type is initially destined for search

and rescue operations, but

Monteux says the customer is

looking at “what kind of configu-

ration they want”, in order to

broaden its versatility. ■

Anthony Pecchi/Airbus Helicopters

Company is hopeful New Delhi will follow Malaysia in acquiring its H225M, for a variety of roles

“Almost all countries

[in Southeast Asia]

will renew and expand

their fleets”

PHILIPPE MONTEUX

Head, Airbus Helicopters, SE Asia

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