Leonardo, previously known as Finmeccanica and formerly embroiled in the VVIP helicopter bribery scandal involving AgustaWestland choppers over a decade ago, is now endeavoring to reestablish its position in India's burgeoning civil aviation sector.
Following the lifting of the ban on the Italian company's participation in government contracts in 2021, Leonardo has set its sights on India's expanding civil aviation domain, marking a significant shift in its approach.
The company recently disclosed its chosen distributor for the Indian civil helicopter market, a development hailed as a crucial milestone, at the HAI Heli-Expo held in California, USA.
This partnership is poised to oversee various aspects, including sales, marketing, and support services, catering specifically to Leonardo helicopters in India's civilian commercial market.
Contrary to its previous stance during the period of sanctions, where there were apprehensions about the sustainability of its operations in India due to limited business prospects, the company's management now perceives promising opportunities within India's burgeoning aviation landscape.
"We are delighted to establish this partnership with Universal Vulkaan Aviation Pte Limited. Given the flourishing civil aviation sector in India and the escalating demand for reliable transportation solutions, we are confident that our state-of-the-art helicopters are well-positioned to address this demand," stated Stefano Villanti, Senior Vice President of Sales and Marketing at Leonardo Helicopters.
Through this new collaboration, Leonardo plans to introduce helicopter models such as AW109, AW139, and AW169 to the Indian markets.
The scandal, which came to light in early 2013 in Italy, alleged that kickbacks were paid by the company to secure the sale of 12 AgustaWestland VVIP helicopters to the Indian government in a deal valued at Rs 3.6 billion. Consequently, the government canceled the deal.Â
Leonardo SpA, previously known as Finmeccanica, is partly owned by the Italian government.
Since the lifting of the government contract ban in 2021, the company has gradually expanded its presence in India. Notably, it made its debut at the Aero India show in February 2023 in Bengaluru. Reports indicate that it secured orders from one of India’s largest private helicopter services companies as well as a Kerala-based jewelry business house last year.
