NHI, Sikorsky extend bids for Indian naval helicopter programme

Two overseas manufacturers have extended their commercial bids for the Indian Navy's (IN's) long-delayed Naval Multi-Role Helicopter (NMRH) requirement until December 2013.
Official sources said Europe's NHIndustries (NHI) and Sikorsky, which are offering their NH90 and S-70B Seahawk helicopters respectively, had recently agreed to the six-month extension for the second time in a year at the Ministry of Defence's (MoD's) request.
The MoD is trying to resolve a complaint by NHI against Sikorsky in the more than USD1 billion programme, for which field trials were completed in 2011. In an early 2012 letter to the MoD, NHI claimed that during the trials the MoD had "granted" the Sikorsky S-70B helicopter several technical waivers.

 janes.com