Eurocopter plans to invest US $ 1 billion in India

Eurocopter, a global helicopter manufacturing and support company, will invest over US $ 1 billion in India over the next two years.

Eurocopter, a unit of the European Aeronautic Defence and Space Co (EADS) and the world's largest civil and military helicopter manufacturer is reported to already put in bids for orders of over 500 helicopters for the Indian Army, Navy and the Air Force.

As per the reports, the Marignane, France based company is planning to set up an Indian subsidiary, a helicopter training school, and maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) centre for helicopters in the country. The MRO will also be a center for Asia and take care of all requirements of flight engineering and repair.

Eurocopter's South Asia sales director, Rainer Farid, has been quoted as saying that the the company was bidding along with defence major Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) for light and 10-tonne helicopters for the Indian Army, Navy and Air Force.

"We are exploring industrial deployment of our helicopters. Eurocopter is also planning to hire a qualified workforce for its India operations, based in Bangalore. The total investment in India could be in the region of billion," he said.

According to company officials, the company has bid for 260 single-engine high-altitude light reconnaissance helicopters for the Army, of which the first 60 would be delivered directly by it while the rest would be manufactured in partnership with HAL.

Eurocopter’s administrative manager in India, David Martin said the company had submitted joint bids with HAL for 200 ten-tonne helicopters for the Navy.

"The company is also bidding for VIP helicopter contracts for the Indian Air Force. Moreover, we are in talks with corporate houses for VIP travel and offshore transportation," Martin said.