Pakistan

Pakistan signs deal for Italian choppers

Contract for AgustaWestland AW139 helicopters was signed in Islamabad in presence of Italy’s Ambassador to Pakistan

News Desk May 26, 2016

Contract for AgustaWestland AW139 helicopters was signed in Islamabad in presence of Italy’s Ambassador to Pakistan. PHOTO: REUTERS

Pakistan has signed a contract for an undisclosed number of search and rescue helicopters with Italy-based aerospace giant, Leonardo-Finmeccanica.

The contract for the AgustaWestland AW139 helicopters was signed in Islamabad in the presence of Italy’s Ambassador to Pakistan Stefano Pontecorvo, a statement released by the aerospace company said. It added that the contract is part of a fleet renewal programme spread over several batches and includes a logistic support and training packages.

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Deliveries of the AW139 helicopters, which will be used for search and rescue duties, are expected to begin in 2017.

Pakistan already operates 11 AW139 helicopters, five of which are used by the government for civil protection and transport tasks.

The AW139 is a 15-seat medium-sized twin-engined helicopter used by some 38 countries in a variety of roles such as law enforcement, search and rescue, emergency medical services, disaster relief, maritime patrol and fire-fighting. The aircraft has a service ceiling of around 20,000 feet which allows it to be used for high-altitude rescues.

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Last June, the Pakistan Army had to rescue a Japanese mountaineer who was injured in an avalanche while trying to summit the Broad Peak. Later that year, in July, the army had to airlift an American mountaineer from the K-2 base camp after he suffered altitude-sickness.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 26^th, 2016.

COMMENTS (13)

Kolsat | 7 years ago | Reply @YAs: Pakistan should investigate who did the company bribe this time to land the contract.

Croyden | 7 years ago | Reply Frustrated Indians or indian trolls whose own lives are a mess come to here to blab. These helis are for non-combative purposes, the military hardware given the indian darlings here would'nt have been disclosed to the press. Pakistan actually needs helis for rescue missions in the mountainous north as well as for the urban cities. The indian corruption scandal that involved Agusta company was the delivry of 10 or 12 units for VVIPs, where Indian ex-IAF chief Tyagi, middlemen or businessmen like abhishek Verma, bureaucrats were also paid hefty amounts and the indians only blame politicians whereas are quite happy to be corruption contributors alongside them ROFL. The issue was about bribes of over 360 crores as well as personal assets of Agusta CEO to indians LOL, [as how they sell themselves for some lakhs and show their high-handedness in their crap talk]. The issue was about bribes, future investments, nothing to do with the nits sold which happened under UPA govt. & the probe happened under BJP govt., so its quite clear. Plus the italian court acquitted the italian manufacturer but only charged him on false invoicing again nothing to do with the heli units.

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Supersequel | 7 years ago | Reply I can tell just from these comments now badly Pakistani newspapers are trolled by her neighbors-even some positive news. These helicopters aren't for military purposes and are for search and rescue issue--as in earthquakes, flooding, attacks--which Pakistan is quite used to. As for the Indian issue and corruption with this company, remember that with one hand no one can clap.

Ponka | 7 years ago | Reply .... and they will be used to give to ride to the ministers protocol. One can see helicopters only when these creatures comes in town.

sami shahid | 7 years ago | Reply very nice choppers....these choppers will help a lot in Siachen and border with Afghanistan.

Acorn Guts | 7 years ago | Reply To search and rescue the VIPs in need of lift home in hot weather.

Malik Saab | 7 years ago | Reply Leonardo-Finmeccanica.is known to give the best bribery rates in the Helicopter industry. Their amount is always undisclosed like in the current deal. Most of their clients are third world governments. They are banned in some countries ( Including India) owing to bribery charges. This explains why Pakistani government love this helicopter.

Syedpk | 7 years ago | Reply All the major companies are involved in kickbacks, the main concern is not the company giving kickback but the people receiving kickbacks. @Habibullah You need to really stop watching Pogo.

OSD | 7 years ago | Reply Augusta Westland is at the centre of a major bribery scandal in India. This deal should be rigorously investigated to ensure a good and necessary deal has been secured.

Ali | 7 years ago | Reply Constant flights are planned from Raiwind to PM house.

Habibullah | 7 years ago | Reply Inshallah it is great breakthrough for Pakistan. Now US cannot play games. We can attach 2 guns and make it into Apache.Pakistani brains are best !!!! LONG LIVE RAHEEL SHARIF !!!!!!

Naveed | 7 years ago | Reply I bet you the payment will be in form of loan arranged by Augusta,so Pakistan arranging multi million helps to rescue mountaineers while people have no food,clothes or education,excellent priorities

YAs | 7 years ago | Reply Augusta recently blacklisted in India and the case is on going in Italy, for bribing officials in the similar heli deals. Don't remember whole story, just Google please.

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