Lockheed Martin catches up with Boeing to enter the Indian helicopter market
By Vikas Gupta
Defence News of India, 25 Mar 22
Lockheed Martin- The largest US and global aerospace and defense company – is fiercely competing in the Indian helicopter market with its rival, Boeing. Boeing scored early with the Indian Air Force’s (IAF) multi-billion dollar sale of Chinook heavy-lift helicopters and Apache attack helicopters. However, Lockheed Martin subsidiary Sikorsky is catching up with the sale last year for $2.12 billion to the Indian Navy of 24 multi-purpose Seahawk maritime helicopters.
Thursday, Sikorsky scored again. Delivering a flying start to Wings India 2022 – India’s premier civil aviation show, to be held in Hyderabad from March 24-28 – pawan hans announced that he had rented six Sikorsky S-76D helicopters from Milestone Aviation Group (Milestone), the global group leader in helicopter rental.
Pawan Hans, a public company under the Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA), intends to use these helicopters to support onshore and offshore operations in Petroleum and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC).
Five of the six helicopters have already been delivered. Milestone and Sikorsky are also contracted to supply Pawan Hans complete logistics and sustainment packages to support the gradual integration of this new helicopter into its fleet.
Pawan Hans chief Sanjeev Razdan said: “In the medium twin (engine) category, the S-76D is the ideal aircraft to support our offshore operations in South Asia.The helicopter was launched with a completely new maintenance and support philosophy by Pawan Hans.
Welcoming Pawan Hans to the group of operators who fly Lockheed Martin helicopters, Lockheed Martin India chief Bill Blair said his company was “delighted that Pawan Hans is introducing the S-76D aircraft to the Indian market to perform critical offshore oil and gas transportation missions. .”
Blair said the inherent reliability of the S-76D combined with Sikorsky’s support services will appeal to customers and match Lockheed Martin’s focus on the Indian market.
The popular Sikorsky S-76 helicopter has operated since 1977 in various environmental conditions in more than 40 countries on six continents. Sikorsky has delivered more than 875 S-76 helicopters to customers around the world, contributing daily to a growing total of more than 7.5 million flight hours.
The S-76D helicopter is an upgraded version of the S-76, incorporating more modern technologies to provide a substantial increase in performance, power and value.
Since 1985, Pawan Hans has been India’s market leader in helicopter operations. Its fleet of 42 helicopters provides services to sectors such as oil and gas exploration, pipeline survey and aerial work, police and utility duties, VIP and state government services .
Pawan Hans also provides passenger connectivity to remote, hilly and inaccessible areas along the northern and northeastern borders of India. Additionally, it provided inter-island connectivity in Andaman & Nicobar Islands and Lakshadweep.
