Military Procurement International Vol. 19, No. 7, April 1, 2009
Copyright DAPSS S.A., 200
9, Switzerland. It is unlawful to reproduce any of this publication without written permission from the publisher.
INTERNATIONAL
US to join Franco-German heavy lift helicopter project?
France and Germany will present a proposal to the European Defence Agency (EDA) in the coming weeks for a 32-35 tonne Heavy Lift Helicopter (HLH) and the project could be joined by the United States, said EDA Director Alexander Weiss on March 13.
The project is expected to cost some EUROS 2 billion (US$2.57 billion) for development, leading to an Initial Operating Capability (IOC) by 2018-2020. France and Germany have a combined requirement for about 60 HLHs, which is not enough to justify the development cost. But, said Weiss, the EDA had discussed it with Pentagon officials on March 10 and there is “potential for trans-Atlantic co-operation.”
The EDA will also be seeking interest from other European nations in joining the HLH project.