EADS plans tech transfer to HAL

European Aeronautics Defence and Space Company (EADS) is planning to tap the Indian helicopter market through its constituent Eurocopter. As a first step, it wants to ensure its technology is acceptable to local buyers.

Olivier Lambert, executive vice-president (sales and marketing) of Eurocopter said, EADS plans to sell copters at competitive rates to expand its global market share.

To achieve this, it was looking out for a low-cost manufacturer in India. " Hindustan Aeronautics (HAL) has the expertise to make the copter and so we are considering a technology transfer," said Lambert.

But, the tech transfer would not take place immediately. It will take place after Eurocopter initially supplies a batch of helicopters fully manufactured in Europe. "We will deliver some 60 copters initially before the technology transfer," said Lambert. "Right now, we have an agreement for 160 copters," he added.

Hindustan Aeronautics proposes to have an indigenous copter and for this it has submitted a request for information to helicopter companies across the world last week. Right now, Chetak and Cheetah are the mainstay of the Indian armed forces.

The proposal made to India is for the Eurocopter AS 555 SN Fennec. But, Lambert declined to divulge financial details of the agreement.

Another product, Eurocopter is promoting is the 'Tiger', which is a specialised combat helicopter. These copters are right now used by the French and German armed forces.

The project, funded by France and Germany, has given birth to a robust machine. On its advantage over the American Apache helicopter, he said, the Apache is heavier when compared to the Tiger and hence less agile.

Eurocopter says, its copters are suited for civil and military purposes. While, Eurocopter's main clients are France and Germany, it has been exploring markets in Africa and South East Asia among others.

(The correspondent's Dubai visit was sponsored by EADS)