Heli-Dyne Systems has entered the naval helicopter market with a version of the Bell 412 originally developed for the Ecuadorian navy. The Texas-based company has responded to requests for proposals from Brazil, Greece, Thailand and Turkey, and provided unsolicited proposals to countries including Indonesia, Malaysia, Mexico and Singapore.
Heli-Dyne general manager Jerry Mullins says the commercially-developed 412 Sentinel, at under $20 million, is about half the price of the GKN Westland Lynx and Kaman SH-2G Super Seasprite light naval helicopters. The company has built two for Ecuador, with search radar, infrared sensor, dipping sonar and Penguin anti-ship missiles, and has an order from Venezuela for four search-and-rescue (SAR) variants.
Mullins says Venezuela has a requirement for a further eight fully-equipped helicopters, similar to the Ecuadorian machines, for delivery beginning in 2003. An unnamed navy has asked Heli-Dyne to quote for four SAR variants of MD Helicopters' MD Explorer, he says.
Source: Flight International