AgustaWestland has won a contract to service and overhaul seven of the Indian navy’s Sea King MK2B helicopters, which have fallen into disrepair since the imposition of US sanctions in the 1990s. The manufacturer will work with Hindustan Aeronautics (HAL), which will repair and overhaul rotable items such as the transmission and rotor heads. This is part of a 2004 contract between AgustaWestland and HAL allowing the Indian company to perform indigenous Sea King repair and overhaul work in support of the navy’s 32-strong fleet. The Indian navy operates both the Mk42B and Mk42C variants that were delivered in the late 1980s. The fleet is used for anti-submarine warfare operations over the Indian Ocean, but their effectiveness has been limited because of an inability to obtain spares.
Source: Flight International
