South Korea is evaluating the AgustaWestland EH101 and Sikorsky S-92 this month in a quick-moving competition to select a new presidential helicopter. Industry sources say an evaluation team was in Connecticut last week to look at the new S-92 and is in the UK this week to test the EH101.
AgustaWestland and Sikorsky were shortlisted earlier this year for South Korea's VHX helicopter programme and handed in bids for three aircraft last month. Seoul first evaluated the EH101 and Kazan-built Mil Mi-17 four years ago, but shelved the programme because of budget constraints. It later ruled out Russian equipment from the current round of the contest.
Industry sources believe the programme is now adequately funded and expect a contract to be awarded around October. If this schedule holds, South Korea should decide on its VHX platform before a selection in the much larger US Navy VXX presidential helicopter programme, which also pits the EH101 against the S-92.
After the evaluation team returns to South Korea at the end of this week, the manufacturers will be invited to Seoul for detailed negotiations. To be delivered in late 2006, the new aircraft will replace a fleet of Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawks earlier converted into VIP aircraft to transport the president and other high-ranking officials.
Sikorsky is hoping to line up its first Asian customers for the S-92 by year-end, with both South Korea and China's communications ministries top candidates.
BRENDAN SOBIE / SINGAPORE
Source: Flight International