India chooses Boeing Chinook helicopter over Russian Mi-26

Russia's Mi-26T2 helicopter has lost the tender for delivery of 15 helicopters to the Indian Air Force in a statement issued by the Indian Defense Ministry last Wednesday.

Both the Mi-26T2 and Ch-47F had qualified in the technical trials and their financial bids, which covered both the initial acquisition costs as well as the life cycle costs.

According to Indian media reports, the Boeing Chinook CH-47F was selected as the preferred candidate for the Heavy Lift Helicopter requirements based on cost effectiveness and after-sales service.

The Indian Defense Ministry stated that the Boeing CH-47F had been found compliant will all the stated Air Staff Qualitative Requirements (ASQR) during Field Evaluation Trials.

Russia's losing tender continues the decline in its previously dominant market position in India due to strong competition with American and European companies. Earlier Russia's Mi-28 attack helicopter lost to the AH-64D Apache attack helicopter from the United States.

The Russian Mi-35 fighter aircraft also did not make it to the final rounds during the Medium Multi-Role Combat Aircraft (MMRCA) competition, which was eventually won by the French Rafale aircraft over the European Typhoon.

http://en.rian.ru/military_news/20121205/177940820.html

By DoD photo by Spc. Russell J. Good [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons