Bell and Boeing face a further delay before a winner is chosen in Taiwan's protracted and politically sensitive attack helicopter competition, with the Taiwanese national ministry of defence likely to defer the 30-aircraft programme from its 2005 budget.
Industry sources say that budget issues are the reason for the delay as Taiwan juggles a number of key modernisation programmes.
Process
The selection process has involved a detailed cost and operational effectiveness study in which the two aircraft - Boeing's AH-64D Apache Longbow and Bell's AH-1Z - went head to head.
It is understood that the Apache emerged as the front-runner from that study, but Bell may benefit from the delay as the AH-1Z is due to complete its operational assessment in the USA next year.
Bell has also strengthened industrial links, by signing a contract with Taiwan's Aerospace Industrial Development Corporation (AIDC) covering the supply of supply booms for US Marine Corps AH-1Zs and UH-1Ys.
Source: Flight Daily News
