Choppers for Navy: 3 firms in the running
They'll be invited to submit bids to supply helicopters fitted with
anti-ship missiles; aircraft are to be deployed on warships
By David Boey
THE Republic of Singapore Navy's long, three-year search for its
first ship-borne helicopters is entering the final phase.
Choppers in the running include the Cougar (above), from
France-based Eurocopter, and the NH-90 (below), made by European
consortium NHIndustries. The helicopters are expected to perform a
variety of roles, including surveillance, and anti-ship and
anti-submarine combat missions.
Three shortlisted companies will be invited later this month to
prepare their 'best and final offers' for submission.
The offers - essentially the best price they can give - will be for
up to eight helicopters.
These helicopters will be the first in the Singapore Armed Forces'
arsenal to be armed with anti-ship missiles and deployed on
warships.
The three choppers being considered are a modified variant of the
SH-70(N) Sea Hawk from United Technologies (UTC), a United
States-based company; the Cougar from France-based Eurocopter; and
the NH-90, which is made by European consortium NHIndustries.
Singapore's search for naval warfare helicopters dates back to the
1980s, when a team of engineers was sent to Egypt to evaluate an
offer by the country to sell second-hand Sea King anti-submarine
choppers, but nothing came of that.
The current search began after the Navy ordered six 110-metre
stealth frigates from France in 2000.
A helicopter will be carried by each of the frigates, which will be
the largest missile-armed warships in the Navy. The first frigate
should be delivered in 2005.
In addition, two more helicopters will be required for shore-based
training and as replacement choppers when others undergo
maintenance.
The helicopters are expected to carry both anti-submarine torpedoes
and anti-ship missiles.
Once the Defence Ministry asks for the best and final offers, the
three companies will have a month or so to submit their
prices.
The bids will then be examined by the Defence Science &
Technology Agency, the national authority on military
technology.
This process should be completed by early next year, after which
the successful bidder will be announced.
