AgustaWestland and Sikorsky will go head-to-head in a bid to land a lucrative order for 14 maritime helicopters from Japan. The emerging competition in one of the world's most important markets will pit the EH101 (pictured above) against the S-92 (right) and could prove the springboard to long-term follow-on orders for up to 60 machines.
The Japanese government wants to buy three helicopters for the Department of Education to operate on Antarctic surveys, while the Japan Defence Agency will take 11 aircraft configured for airborne mine countermeasures.
Submissions from the rival bidders are due next month with a decision soon afterwards.
Winning the competition would have enormous strategic significance for both Sikorsky and AgustaWestland.
The Anglo-Italian alliance is teamed with Kawasaki Heavy Industries, with Sikorsky working alongside Mitsubishi. Any deal would have to include in-country manufacture.
AgustaWestland does have a foothold in the Japanese market because the Tokyo Metropolitan Police already operates an EH101 and it hopes that this will tilt the balance in favour of its aircraft.
AgustaWestland managing director Richard Case says: "We believe having a proven aircraft with 1,000 reliable hours under its belt is an advantage for us, but as well as mission capability the Japanese government is also looking at value for money. We are currently looking at the most effective and acceptable ways of in-country production."
The US manufacturer meanwhile has a pressing need to secure more export orders to supplement its recent success in Ireland where the S-92 won a controversial competition for two SAR helicopters plus options. Dublin's decision, linked to the offer of work to FLS Aerospace, might yet face a legal challenge from Eurocopter.
The S-92 lost out to the EH101 in Portugal and also failed to secure orders from the Nordic Standard Helicopter Programme, which disintegrated as a joint purchase because Demark, Finland, Norway and Sweden were unable to agree on a common type. The orders were shared between the NH90 and EH101.
Source: Flight Daily News
