India Airshow: Eurocopter offers to set up unit in India

Eurocopter, a unit of European aerospace and defence consortium, EADS, has offered to set up a production line in India to make its Fennec helicopters if it wins an Indian defence contract.

EADS is competing for a contract to sell 197 reconnaissance and surveillance helicopters to India under a defence contract.

"We will set up a production line in India," Eurocopter CEO Lutz Bertling said on the sidelines of the India Airshow in Bangalore today.

Bertling said he did not expect the Indian government to cut budget allocation for ongoing defence programmes in the country.

''Eurocopter has made major investments in building up its product portfolio, which positions us to offer products that meet India's mission requirements in bolstering its defence capabilities,'' said Bertling.

''At the last Aero India event, we showcased the AS550 C3 Fennec, which was presented as the ideal replacement for India's aging Cheetah and Chetak fleet. This time, we are bringing the combat-proven AS565 MBe Panther with a complete set of armament, which is in service in many military forces around the world.''