http://www.unison.ie/irish_independe...issue_id=11233
A TIGHTLY-fought battle began yesterday to select the first armed helicopters to fly with the Irish Air Corps in a deal worth more than €50m.
But with the debacle over the previous attempt to buy medium-lift helicopters worth €100m still fresh in everyone's minds, the Department of Defence is treading cautiously <snip>
America's Sikorsky, part of the giant United Technologies group, won the last contract. However, amid threats of legal action by losing competitors, the contract for up to five helicopters was cancelled by Defence Minister Michael Smith, ostensibly as part of cutbacks.
The US company <snip> is offering its famous Blackhawk assault transport helicopter and its S-76 model.
Other familiar faces include British-Italian firm Agusta-Westland. It will submit its A-109 helicopter and its new larger AB-139 chopper for the new contract.
Eurocopter is likely to propose its EC-135 and EC-145 or its Cougar helicopter.
At stake is an initial order for six helicopters, two light machines mainly for training and four utility helicopters, with an option on two more.
The utility helicopters will each be able to carry eight heavily-armed soldiers from the Army Ranger Wing. The aircraft will each be armed with two GPMG machine-guns and a range of other weapons, and will be available for a variety of other tasks.
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