South Korea has approved the purchase of three presidential Sikorsky S-92s for $113 million, rejecting AugustaWestland's EH101.
President Roh Moo-hyun signed the deal on 6 May, ending five months of delays. South Korea's ministry of defence rated the S-92 above the EH101 in an evaluation last year, but Roh postponed a briefing on the VH-X programme that was initially set for December after UK politicians urged South Korea to reconsider (Flight International, 7-13 December 2004).
South Korea further delayed a final decision after the USA in January preferred a version of the EH101 to the S-92. But following intense lobbying from Sikorsky, South Korea was persuaded to go forward with the deal rather than let the bids expire this week.
Industry sources say the contract with Sikorsky should be finalised over the next few weeks. All three aircraft are to be delivered 27 months after contract signing.
Sikorsky will equip the aircraft to meet communication, navigation and survivability requirements. Qatar, Turkey and Turkmenistan have also ordered S-92s.
BRENDAN SOBIE/SINGAPORE
Source: Flight International
