Ecuador, may refuse Indian Dhruv helicopters
Indian helicopters Dhruv suffer a grim failure in Ecuador, reports the main news agency of Pakistan APP. Having paid for Dhruv 50 million dollars, the Ecuadorian air force was confronted with problems even in the latest batch of two helicopters that had barely arrived in the country. According to the agency, from the already transferred cars one helicopter crashed and two more made an emergency landing due to the failure of the control devices of the engine speed casting.
Difficulties with the operation and maintenance of Dhruv helicopters that befell the Ecuadorian Air Force, exacerbated exorbitant prices for repairs put up by the Indian side. The American manufacturer of devices that caused the incidents asked for repairs to 100 thousand dollars, while the Indians demanded 250 thousand dollars for the same work, i.e., two and a half times more.
India also raised the price of those two Dhruv helicopters that the Ecuadorian Air Force planned to buy, and now require 12 million dollars apiece.
The Ecuadorian air force told the Indian government that they were considering canceling further purchases of Dhruv helicopters due to cost, maintenance problems, poor flight performance and mediocre after-sales support.
According to observers, such a disappointing experience of Ecuador with Dhruv helicopters can seriously interfere with the plans of the Indians to implement their aviation products in the countries of South America.
Probably, other South American governments - Colombia, Brazil and Chile - that are considering the acquisition of Dhruv helicopters for their air force, will soon reconsider these plans, summarizes Pakistani media. It would be surprising if they predicted something opposite.
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