Indian company had failed to ship some parts for the helicopters
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New Delhi: In a huge setback to Indian prestige in the defence sector, Ecuador on Friday said it was unilaterally ending a contract with India’s state-owned Hindustan Aeronautics Limited, which had sold seven “Dhruv” Advanced Light Helicopters (ALHs) to the South American nation. Equador’s defence minister announced the decision, according to international news agency reports from Quito. At least four of the Dhruv helicopters delivered between 2009 and 2012 had crashed.
According to the reports, defence minister Fernando Cordero said two of the crashes had been caused by mechanical failures. The three remaining Dhruv have been grounded.
Ecuador earlier complained that the Indian company had failed to ship some parts for the helicopters, which were bought for a total of $45.2 million.
Meanwhile, the Bengaluru-based HAL said it had not received any formal communication as yet from Equador but sources said two of the four Dhruv crashes in that country were caused by pilot error.
Sources also said that maintenance of the helicopters was the responsibility of HAL for only the first two years after delivery, following which Equador was responsible.
( Source : deccan chronicle )
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