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 “We
will treat India and the Indian government requirements
as we treat the USA and the US government requirements,”
he said during a recent visit here.
“We have drawn a road map whereby Sikorsky intends
to bring the Black Hawk in India and also produce
it here. We plan to expand our facility in Hyderabad
city to make the military choppers. The unit currently
makes aerospace components under a joint venture
with Tatas.”
“The creation of the facility would of course
depend upon the Indian Government. We foresee
a requirement of the Blackhawk type of helicopter,
and if the Indian forces choose it in numbers,
say around 60, we could shift the manufacturing
facility to India,” Estill said.
The UH-60-A Black Hawk helicopters are medium-range,
all weather, tactical apprehension aircraft used
by Air and Marine forces to protect the American
public from threats of attacks, terrorism and
drug smuggling and to enforce airspace security
over critical venues.
The Blackhawks, which usually fly with a crew
of at least three (pilot, copilot and crew members),
are large, powerful helicopters, which can carry
all the equipment and personnel necessary for
law enforcement operations without sacrificing
range and speed. In addition, they are well suited
to the all weather hazardous environments in which
Air and Marine forces routinely operate.
The Blackhawk has a max cruise speed of 150 knots,
service ceiling altitude of 20,000 feet, range
of 600 NM, endurance 4.5 hours and max gross weight
22,000 lbs. There are some unique features like
internal auxiliary fuel tanks, infrared detection
system (IRDS) and night sun spotlight. The system
is also night vision goggles compatible.
According to AVM (Retd) AJS Walia, Managing
Director Sikorsky India and South Asia, India
has a wealth of talent. “We at Sikorsky are very
upbeat about the talent and skill that is available,
and to exploit this wealth, thereby generating
employment and servicing both the local and Asia-Pacific
markets.”
He further stated, “Sikorsky is known for its
safety of the occupants and the machine. It is
the most important parameter. To achieve this
kind of safety we provide a standard equipment
called Enhanced Ground Proximity Warning System
(EGPWS). Our USP is that it is inbuilt and doesn’t
come as an option.”
 Apart
from possibly selling 16 helicopters to India,
Sikorsky will also lease out 20 choppers to the
Indian Coast Guard, said a hopeful Estill.
After the 26/11 Pakistani terror attacks in Mumbai,
India’s requirements for homeland security, including
to protect the coasts, has grown manifold as nothing
much had been done before. The Indian Navy, Coast
Guard and state police forces, all need helicopters
in numbers to monitor and protect the Indian waters
and vital installations.
It may be recalled that Igor Sirosky invented
the helicopter after he considered that fixed
wings aircraft could not have saved lives. True
to his philosophy, Sikorsky has been innovating
continuously to meet the need of the various nations.
Sikorsky has provided helicopters to fly US Presidents
from Eisenhower to Obama, as also the Queen of
England and other VVIPs.
“The list is endless,” obsrved AVM Walia.
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