Friday, February 13, 2009

India, Russia To Float $600 Million JV To Develop New Aircraft

India, Russia To Float $600 Million JV To Develop New Aircraft
(NSI News Source Info) Bangalore - February 13, 2009: With defence sector being open to foreign direct investment, the ongoing modernisation plan of Armed Forces and enormous new opportunities in the civil aviation sector have opened innumerable new avenues for investment. India companies, making the most of the opportunity of sharing the expertise in the fields of R&D production and product support with other global players at the Aero India 2009, inked a few pacts on Thursday to give a boost to the aviation sector. The country's Bird Group announced an agreement with the Switzerland-based business jet company-VistaJet Holding SA-to market the Vistajet in India, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Maldives, Mauritius, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka. The Russian MIG-35 fighter, bidding to supply 126 multi-role combat aircraft to IAF, has a good chance to win the deal as it was a strong product to meet India's defence needs, Mikhail Pogosyan, CEO RSK MIG and Sukhoi, said here on Thursday. In yet another deal, India and Russia will establish a 50:50 joint venture in the next few months to develop a multi-role transport aircraft at a cost of $600 million, a top Russian official said. While Bangalore-headquartered Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) would be the Indian partner, the Russian side would identify its partners, likely to be United Aircraft Corporation's (UAC's) transport and cargo divisions, in the next few weeks, president and chairman of UAC, Alexey I Fedorov said. The jointly developed transport aircraft would be inducted into the Russian and Indian Air Force, he said on the sidelines of the ongoing South Asia's biggest airshow 'Aero India-2009'. Meanwhile, global leader in aerospace and defence related services European Aeronautic Defence and Space Company ( EADS) said it has signed 25 agreements in India since August last year to enhance cooperation with the country's aerospace and defence industry, company officials said. “A competitive Eurofighter Typhoon bid proposal and a comprehensive offset offer were submitted to the Indian authorities in (August) 2008 (in response to bids for medium multi role combat aircraft (MMRCA) programme”, Bernhard Gerwert, CEO of military air systems, an integrated business unit of EADS defence and security said. Since then, 25 MoUs have already signed to enhance industrial cooperation with India's aerospace and defence industry, he said. The Eurofighter Typhoon partner companies are confident of fulfilling the 50% offset obligation (under which 30% of the contract amount has to be invested in India) of the Request for Proposals (RFP) (in connection with MMRCA) and would offer India access to an international.
Bird Air Services Pvt Ltd, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Bird Group, signed a comprehensive marketing agreement with Pacific Propeller Intl (PPI), a global repair and overhaul services provider to several regional airlines and military aircrafts. Under the agreement, PPI would provide its services and products through Bird Air within the Indian subcontinent, executive director of Bird Group Ankur Bhatia said. It would also help facilitate MRO (maintenance, repair and overhaul) services for propeller based engines for aircrafts in India at PPI prop shops.

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