GKN Westland is taking part in preliminary negotiations with Egypt over an upgrade of the country's Commando MkI and MkII transport helicopters, along with its Sea King Mk47 anti-submarine warfare/anti-surface-warfare helicopters.
The discussions are the first formal contacts between Egypt and Westland since the resolution of prolonged legal proceedings between the two over an abortive plan for the Arab Organisation for Industrialisation to build the UK company's helicopters.
Westland was paid nearly ú200 million ($320 million) in compensation. The package being offered now is primarily for avionics, although Westland is also proposing to fit the helicopters with composite rotors.
Egypt took delivery of some 32 MkI and MkII Commandos between the late 1970s and early 1980s. It also operates five Sea King Mk47s. Several Commandos have been lost.
Westland is proposing an improved Doppler and navigation suite on the Commandos and Sea Kings. On the latter, a new sonar and radar suite is also being considered, although no selection has yet been made by Egypt.
A similar upgrade package is also being discussed with Qatar, covering eight Commando Mk IIs and four Commando MkIIIs. The MkIIIs are used in the anti-surface-vessel role and have Aerospatiale Exocet anti-ship missiles.
The upgrade for the Qatari MkIIs would primarily cover navigation suite improvements, but the Mk IIIs' radars would probably be replaced as well.
Source: Flight International
