Thursday, January 27 2005 20:46 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Bangalore: India has offered the skid and naval variant of its homegrown multi-utility helicopters "Dhruv" to Chile expecting an order from the Latin American country.

"We have offered two variants - skid and naval - to Chile," Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL) Chairman Ashok K Baweja told reporters in Bangalore today (Jan 27, 2005).

He declined comment on reports that Santiago will sign a deal to buy four Dhruvs during the visit of Chilean Defence Minister to India in April nor did he specify a time frame for clinching the major order from the South American nation.

The State-run HAL is jointly marketing Dhruv helicopters with Israeli Aviation Industry (IAI) to the global market.

The 13 seater Dhruv, powered by two Snecma TM-333B engines were evaluated by the Chilean Air Force last June for over a month and had expressed its willingness to buy the Indian helicopter against tough competition from aircraft from the US and Europe.

Dhruv has about 60 per cent foreign components, but HAL is further indigenising its first major product to bring down the helicopter cost down from the existing $ 5.5 million to $ 6 million.

India has exported two Dhruvs to Nepal and will ship soon one Dhruv helicopter to Israel.

HAL, Baweja said, would showcase its three aircraft - Dhruv, Tejas, the Light Combat Aircraft and Intermediate Jet Trainer - during the Aero India air show in Bangalore next month.