Da un articolo più ampio, intitolato "
ANALYSIS: Leonardo eyes Asia-Pacific helicopter deals", pubblicato lo scorso
16 Agosto e che, a suo tempo, mi era sfuggito ..... ma che ho poi potuto leggere soltanto nei giorni scorsi nell' edizione cartacea di
Flight International recapitatami con forte ritardo .....
In India, the company is interested in the country's maritime helicopter requirements.
The Sikorsky S-70B is apparently close to being confirmed as the winner of the 16-unit Maritime Reconnaissance Helicopter (MRH) contest.
A much larger prize, however, will be New Delhi’s planned Naval Multi-Role Helicopter competition for 120 rotorcraft, with the requirement covering anti-submarine and anti-surface warfare missions, as well as general transport duties.
Bortoli declines to specify which aircraft Leonardo will propose but the ASW-equipped AW101 Merlin would appear a likely candidate.
That said, Leonardo - more specifically Finmeccanica - and the AW101 have had a dismal few years in India.
After being selected for the government’s VVIP tender in 2009, in 2013 corruption allegations engulfed the acquisition, ultimately leading to the imprisonment of ex-Finmeccanica chief executive Giuseppe Orsi in early 2016.
Only three AW101s from the 12-unit order were delivered; Flight Fleets Analyzer lists these aircraft as being in storage since June 2013.
Bortoli, however, says the company has not been blacklisted in India: “We've never been officially blacklisted, and we've never received any communication.”
He adds that Leonardo has had “more than initial discussions” with an unspecified local firm in regard to potential production work in India.
This is a crucial initiative because of New Delhi’s obsession with developing its local defence industry.
A quanto pare ..... vorrebbero riprovarci .....
Si preparino dunque, con tanti auguri, ad affrontare una nuova Odissea .....
.