Article Posted on : - Feb 10, 2009

The Fennec helicopter of the Royal Malaysian Navy. Eurocopter image

BANGALORE (BNS): Eurocopter, the global leader in helicopter manufacturing, with its wide range of products is ready to mark its big presence at the Aero India show that gets underway here on Wednesday. The Eurocopter will demonstrate at the air show that it is ready to fulfill India’s helicopter requirements.

Norbert Ducrot, Eurocopter Senior Vice President Sales & Marketing Asia has said that as the Indian defence industry embarks on an intensive modernisation campaign, Eurocopter is ready to provide perfect solutions for all requirements. “By participating in the key RFPs with the best of our products, we hope to continue to support India in developing a strengthened aerospace industry,” Ducrot said.

Eurocopter has a long history of cooperation with India. The company has had a long association with Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) since 1962. Starting with enabling HAL to manufacture more than 600 helicopters of the Alouette 3 and Lama type (Cheetah/ Chetak), the relationship strengthened further with Eurocopter outsourcing exhaustive Ecureuil work packages to HAL for the global market. Today, HAL is part of Eurocopter's global supply chain by producing Ecureuil/Fennec airframes.

In 2009, in the military environment, Eurocopter has a market share of 55 percent, comprising HAL-made helicopters, whereas it holds a market share of about 50 percent of the civil helicopter market.

Flying high on the international success of its wide range of products, Eurocopter will be showcasing models of its military range which are proposed to the Indian armed forces like Fennec, Tiger and EC725.