Sikorsky S-70i wins Brunei helicopter competition

Brunei will buy 12 Sikorsky S-70i Black Hawk helicopters, with the type having beaten Eurocopter's EC725 in the country's support helicopter contest.

The helicopters will be delivered between 2013 and 2015, said the Brunei defence ministry. They will replace the Royal Brunei Air Force's (RBAF) Bell 212s and MBB BO105s.

In July, Brunei eliminated two other competitors from the competition, the Bell 412 and AgustaWestland AW139.

"The delivery of these advanced new aircraft will allow the RBAF to further strengthen its troop deployment capabilities in military and humanitarian operations to fulfil its national and international obligation," the defence ministry said.

The air force already operates four older S-70 transports, as listed in Flightglobal's HeliCAS database.

Source: Flight International