“We are not shy of cooperating in India. As such our helicopters know the Indian skies, they know every corner of the country,” said Dr Lutz Bertling, President and CEO of Eurocopter on the company’s plans of building on its five-decade-long relationship with the Indian industry. Since its inauguration in 2010, Eurocopter India has gone aggressive, capturing majority of the civil and parapublic market with large success with the EC135. In 2012, it recorded an impressive booking of 12 helicopters, driven largely by the sale of nine light twin-engine EC135. On the deliveries front, it is again leading for the third consecutive year with a total of six registered deliveries and has 43 per cent market share.

“We will continue developing our presence in the market, building on the strengths of Eurocopter India as the only fullfledged subsidiary to be established in the country, with plans to expand organically and through co-operations with local partners,” Dr Bertling said.

Military Helicopters for India

Eurocopter’s prospects include the 197 AS550 C3 Fennec helicopters sought by the Indian armed forces, the AS565 MBe Panther and for the requirement of 56 utility helicopters for the Indian Navy. The Indian Coast Guard is planning to acquire 16 ship-based light-medium helicopters. The Indian Navy has plans to acquire 120 naval multi-role helicopters under the ‘buy and make’ route and the Indian Coast Guard for 14 shore-based CSAR helicopters.

Dr Bertling said the AS550 C3 Fennec would be ideal replacement for the Cheetahs and Chetaks. “It is military certified and combat proven and also it is user-friendly for pilots and technicians due to similar architecture to Cheetah.” He said that the first deliveries can be made in 12 months after contract is concluded as Eurocopter makes 300 Ecureruil/Fennec a year. “The urgent Indian requirements easily fit into our production capacity,” he said and added that the company was ready to set up production capability in India. “We have the best tool for the Indian Air Force.”

Industrial cooperation

Eurocopter and HAL, he said, had five decades of strategic partnership with over 600 Cheetahs/Chetaks produced with associated MRO activities. HAL is part of Eurocopter’s global supply chain for composite chipsets. The company also had industrial and commercial partnerships with Mahindra & Mahindra and Pawan Hans Helicopters. The relationship would be further strengthened.