New Delhi: Leaving the ghosts of the VVIP chopper scam behind, Italian aviation giant Leonardo, earlier known as Finmeccanica, has re-entered the Indian aviation market eyeing the civil aerospace sector.
Universal Vulkaan Aviation Pte. Limited, its sole distributor in India, will now bring the latest range of Leonardo helicopters to the civil aviation market.
After already signing the pre-sales contract for 5 units of AW 09 helicopters in January, the Indian distributor has ordered 11 units of types AW109 Trekker, AW139, and AW169 from the Leonardo’s range to serve the growing needs of this sector.
This is in addition to the 14 helicopters that were purchased by the Vulkaan Group from the pre-owned market, which include the AW 119 Kx and AW 109 Trekker. This will bring the available inventory to 30 machines, the company said in a statement.
Stefano Villanti, SVP Sales and Marketing at Leonardo Helicopters said his company is committed to competitiveness in the VIP-Corporate market, with strong interest in both multi-engine and new AW09 single-engine helicopters.
“We are extending our reach to a wider range of users and are extremely pleased with the acceptance of our modern, safe, and sustainable technology. Our new Indian distributor, Universal Vulkaan Aviation Pte Limited has signed a contract for three twin-engine helicopters (one AW109 GrandNew, one AW169, and one AW139) and preliminary sales contracts for five AW09s as part of a larger agreement for 11 twin-engine helicopters slated for delivery over the next three years,” he said.
“This partnership highlights our commitment to providing cutting-edge solutions for India’s rapidly growing civil aviation market.”
Way back in 2014, Leonardo (then Finmeccanica) found itself embroiled in the VVIP helicopter bribery scam involving AgustaWestland helicopters and was subsequently banned. This significantly impacted the company’s presence in the Indian market.
In November 2021, India formally lifted the ban on AgustaWestland and its parent company Leonardo, paving the way for them to take part in the multiple ongoing projects and bid for upcoming defence contracts.
While the ban was lifted, the probe by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and the Enforcement Directorate (ED) continues in the Rs 3,600 crore VVIP chopper scam in which chargesheets have been filed.
The 2014 ban led to the company’s exclusion from several key projects, including multiple naval helicopter deals, where it had products to compete with others.
The Italian firm also went through a global re-branding exercise and changed its name from the scam-tainted Finmeccanica to Leonardo in 2016. Headquartered in Italy, Leonardo products and solutions are used in over 150 countries worldwide.
(Edited by Tony Rai)
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