07 Nov 06. European Copter Maker Offers To Co-Produce NH90s in Turkey. The major European bidder in the competition for Turkey’s utility helicopter program has proposed a local workshare package that “is well worth considering,” a procurement official here said. NH Industries, maker of the NH90, is proposing an “expensive but top-quality” solution for the program, he said. Analysts said the offer is NH Industries’ move to match a rival proposal from the only U.S. contender, Sikorsky Aircraft, which has proposed a comprehensive co-production program. Sikorsky, Stratford, Conn., is offering to move its production line for the international version of its S-70 Black Hawk helicopter to Turkey. In September, one U.S. and three European manufacturers offered proposals for Turkey’s utility helicopter program. Franco-German Eurocopter, with its Cougar, and Italo-British AgustaWestland also are bidding for the deal, worth more than
$500m. The European competitors have corporate ties. Eurocopter owns 62.5 percent of the shares of NH Industries, AgustaWestland holds 32 percent and the Netherlands-based Stork Fokker has 5.5 percent. Under the program, launched last year, Turkey’s Armed Forces will buy 32 new helicopters to be co-produced in Turkey — 20 for the Army, and six each for the Air Force and the Navy. They also will purchase 20 civilian firefighting helicopters. (Source: Defense News)
06 Nov 06. Rolls-Royce and Serco have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to deliver cutting edge services to the MoD in support of the Defence Industrial Strategy. The agreement is focused initially on the defence sector but could be extended to other key Rolls-Royce business sectors. The two companies combined their resources recently in support of the UK MoD’s C-130 Hercules fleet. In June, Rolls-Royce won a £110 million contract to ensure engine availability for the C-130 and has engaged Serco to provide engineers to carry out servicing work at RAF Lyneham.
06 Nov 06. Rolls-Royce has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd. (HAL) to pursue collaboration on engine component design and manufacturing in India. The MoU builds on this year’s celebration of the 50 years of collaboration between Rolls-Royce and HAL in India’s aerospace industry. It will allow a broader partnership on more strategic initiatives, including advanced engineering. The MoU could potentially include a variety of work in India related to the design, manufacture and assembly of components for Rolls-Royce engines across aerospace segments. Rolls-Royce will also open a supply chain office at HAL facilities.
Nov 06. Raytheon Australia announces team for Land 75 and Land 125 projects. Raytheon Australia plans to team with Tenix Defence Electronic Systems Division and UK company Cobham Defence Communications to bid for the Australian Army’s combined Land 75 and Land 125 projects, the company announced on 25 October.