YELAHANKA AIRBASE, February 13, 2005, Huma Siddiqui (Financial Express)

US helicopter major Bell Textron has said it is willing to transfer technology (ToT) if it is awarded the Indian Army tender for 197 helicopters. This is the first time since the sanctions were imposed by the US government that a commitment has been made by a US defence manufacturer of aviation equipment.

The Bell 407 helicopters will undergo technical evaluation in mid-2005, Bell’s Steven P Woolstan, director, Asia Pacific told FE. Bell, he said, was looking at delivering 60 aircraft off the shelf and would transfer the technology to HAL to produce in India the remaining 140 helicopters under license agreement, besides making India the global hub for production of this helicopter.