Sikorsky pitch for chopper contract

[Frank]

Sikorsky pitch for chopper contract
 

AMERICAN helicopter manufacturer Sikorsky has told the Government that it can deliver new Blackhawk helicopters to Ireland within a year of a contract worth more then €50m being signed.

The company, which has supplied more then 3,000 examples of the legendary helicopter to 26 countries, has told the Department of Defence it can deliver four of its S-70A Blackhawk model to the Irish Air Corps within a short timeframe.

The Department wants four armed utility helicopters able to carry eight soldiers, with an option on two more. It also wants two light utility helicopters mainly for training, and Sikorsky is offering its S-76 model for this role.

Also in the competition is Agusta Westland with its successful A109 and new AB 139; and Eurocopter with the EC 135 and EC 145.

But the four utility helicopters will be primarily tasked with transporting special forces, the Army's Ranger Wing, and Sikorsky is emphasising the Blackhawk's use worldwide in this role.

The helicopter is used by America's Special Forces, including US Army Rangers, Green Berets and SEALs; while the Australian SAS also use it.

Ireland's Rangers have used the Blackhawk while operating with the Australian and New Zealand SAS in East Timor. But the highly trained force have no suitable helicopters available to transport their soldiers to an incident within Ireland.

Irish Rangers on operations in Liberia have had to borrow Ukrainian Army helicopters to insert their patrols and armed jeeps deep into the bush.

Incredibly, the 2000 Defence White Paper dismissed the need to move large numbers of troops by air within Ireland, citing the small size of the country and "the greatly improved roads infrastructure."

Meanwhile, the embassies of the various countries competing for the order are gearing up for a lobbying campign for the different companies.

If Sikorsky wins the deal, the sale may have to be approved by the US Congress.  

Don Lavery

---------------------------------

For those of you with a Unison / irish Independent logon the story can be read here