New Delhi, April 30:

The Indian Army is believed to have short-listed the Bell-407 and the Eurocopter AS 550 for a $500 million contract for 197 light helicopters to replace its ageing fleet of Chetaks and Cheetahs, some of which were inducted more than three decades ago.

“The final trials have been conducted and we are definitely in the race,” an official of Bell Helicopter India Inc, an American firm, said. An Indian Army officer co-nfirmed the two helico-pters were in the race but wasn’t sure of the st-age at which the project was. Eurocopter officials were not immediately available for comment.

The army has projected a requirement for a helicopter that can carry loads of up to 75 kg heights of 23,000 feet on the Siachen Glacier in J&K. Flying at these heights poses unique challenges due to the rarified atmosphere.

According to the Bell official, the army wants to by 60 helicopters outright with the remaining 137 being licensed manufactured by state-owned Hindustan Aeronautics Limited. As regards the transfer of tec-hnology element, he sa-id Bell adequately meets the requirements in the five categories involved. The percentage of technology transfer ranges from 60 to 100 per cent.

The Bell official said it had offered to make India the global hub to produce the 407. Bell had also inked a deal with HAL to manufacture tail rotor blades and other critical components for the popular Bell 206 Jet Ranger and initial deliveries have already been made.

The Army Aviation Corps currently operates a fleet of 300 Chetaks and Cheetahs.

The army officer said that apart from replacing the bulk of these machines, it was also seeking to acquire attack helicopters of the Mi-25 type the Indian Air Force currently has.