Helicopter manufacturers are jostling for position as a number of lucrative competitions in the region draw to a conclusion, including Singapore's competition for eight naval helicopters which is due to be decided later this year.
The Singapore government has shortlisted the NH Industries NH90, Eurocopter's AS532SC Cougar and the Sikorsky S-70B Seahawk, with the NH90 a firm favourite to be selected.
If that does happen, it would cap a hugely successful year for the four-nation European manufacturer, which won important orders in Finland, Norway and Sweden with its bid for the Nordic Standard Helicopter Programme.
The naval helicopter will equip Singapore's La Fayette class frigates, and the government is also likely to place options on additional aircraft which would be used by the Republic of Singapore Air Force in a utility role.
Patrol
Malaysia is also seeking to buy helicopters to equip navy patrol vessels with final selection possible in 2002 to allow deliveries to begin in 2004 or 2005.
AgustaWestland says it plans to bid the Super Lynx, while other contenders include Kaman's SH-2G Super Seasprite, Sikorsky with the S-70 Seahawk, the NH Industries NH90 and the Eurocopter Cougar.
The biggest potential of all might lie in South Korea where the army needs to replace its fleet of MD500s which are used for training, command and control and observation missions, plus its ageing Bell UH-1 utility helicopters.
Local industry aims to develop an indigenous multi-purpose helicopter (KMH) and although the details of the requirement are yet to emerge, the army is likely to want a twin-engined machine with a maximum take-off weight of 6,800kg (15,000lb).
Bell Helicopter will propose either a militarised version of the 427 twin or a tiltrotor concept, Eurocopter will base its proposal on the EC155, while Sikorsky is teamed with Korean Air Lines to propose a joint KMH solution.
Modified
AgustaWestland says it will consider an all-new aircraft or a modified design based on the Lynx or AB139.
Kamov is the other contender and has approached its South Korean partner LG International about using the Ka-60 as its baseline aircraft for KMH. That is driven by the South Korean government's insistence on a 50% offset with its competition to buy attack helicopters (AH-X) where Kamov is bidding the Ka-52.
Doubts over funding of the AH-X are muddying the waters, with South Korea struggling to reconcile purchases of attack helicopters with its financial situation and also the need to further improve relations with North Korea.
Source: Flight Daily News
