13 Nov 2009 23:50

Gazprom to most likely buy foreign-made choppers

MOSCOW. Nov 13 (Interfax) - European company Eurocopter will most likely win a tender announced by Gazprom for the purchase of eight helicopters, a Russian aircraft industry source said on Friday.

"The technical standards being set for the aircraft that are to be bought are such that none of the helicopters that are produced in Russia meets them," the source told Interfax.

Gazprom wants a one-rotor helicopter with a fenestron, the source said. An analysis of other standards set by Gazprom suggests the Eurocopter EC 135 would satisfy the company.

The Gazpromavia company declined to comment on the source's words.

A spokesman for the Russian Helicopters holding company confirmed that the company had been invited to make its bid. However, Russian Helicopters will most likely stay away from the tender as "result of the tender is predetermined in favor of a foreign company," the spokesman said.

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