US firm offers VVIP choppers to India

After India scrapped a contract for procuring VVIP choppers from AgustaWestland, American firm Textron said it is ready to offer its unique V-22 Osprey helicopter to India for ferrying its dignitaries.
Indian government scrapped the contract with AgustaWestland, accusing it of breaching a pre-contract integrity pact and other contractual obligations.
India has so far received only three choppers from the Anglo-Italian firm and is considering the option of using Mi-17V5 choppers being procured from Russia for the purpose.
The V-22 Osprey has already been inducted into the American President's fleet in VVIP configuration and is being used to ferry his entourage.
ndtv.com

El noveno helicóptero EC725 para Brasil inicia los vuelos de pruebas

La novena unidad de los 50 helicópteros EC725 encargados por las Fuerzas Armadas de Brasil ya está en fase de pruebas de vuelo en la fábrica de Helibras. Este es el primer EC725 que se recibirá en instalaciones desarrolladas por la industria de Brasil.
El EC725 número nueve estará destinado al Ejército de Brasil.
Marina, Ejército y Fuerza Aérea recibirán 16 ejemplares del EC725 y el Grupo de Transporte Especial (GTE), unidad de la FAB responsable por transporte presidencial y de autoridades del Gobierno, va a operar dos ejemplares especialmente configurados para la versión VIP.
infodefensa

Indonesia's Air Force One Expected in December

A Boeing 737-800 airplane to be used as a presidential aircraft is expected to be delivered in December and could become operational early next year
The arrival of the $58million-plane will be cheaper than the president’s current air-travel arrangements — the executive branch rents an aircraft from Garuda Indonesia.
thejakartaglobe

Thailand approved approved the acquisition of Airbus ACJ320 for VIP purposes

Thailand approved on Tuesday the acquisition of Airbus ACJ320, as requested by the Defence Ministry's Royal Thai Air Force.
The Royal Thai Air Force said that the aircraft would be reserved for VIP guests.
According to Airbus, the ACJ320 features the most spacious cabin in the corporate jet market, with the same cross section as the ACJ318 and ACJ319.

defense-studies

Indian tweak VVIP helicopter tender requirements so that AW101 can compete

Documents seen by Indian Express showed that the Indian defense ministry had tweaked the requirements for a tender to buy 12 VVIP helicopters so that the AgustaWestland AW101 helicopter can compete.
In the first round of competition, the AW101 was rejected as it could not fly at 6,000 meters. India then modified the specifications to make the fly at least at 4,500 meters.

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indianexpress

A340-500 VIP PARA KUWAIT/ VIP A340-500 pictured in Toulouse ahead of delivery to Kuwait

Un Airbús A340-500 versión VIP, perteneciente a Kuwait ha sido fotografiado en las instalaciones de Airbus en Toulouse, antes de su vuelo de entrega al país de Oriente Medio.
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An Airbus A340-500 belonging to Kuwait was pictured at Airbus's Toulouse-based facility prior for delivery to the Middle Eastern country
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ABU DHABI RECIBE SU SEGUNDO AVRO BUSINESS JET (VIP)

El escuadrón presidencial de Abu Dhabi ha recibido su recebeu sua segundo Avro Business Jet (ABJ), que se unirá al ya existente RJ70 VIP.
La nueva aeronave es un RJ100 convertido por BAE Systems a configuración VIP.
Los Avro Business Jet también sirven en las Fuerzas Aéreas de Bahrein y Dubai
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COREA DEL SUR LANZA CONCURSO PARA FUTURO AVION PRESIDENCIAL/SOUTH KOREA TO OPEN BIDDING FOR PRESIDENTIAL AIRPLANE

Según Defense News Corea del Sur emitirá una RFP "request for proposals", para su programa "VC-X" de compra de un avión presidencial Se espera una decisión sobre el ganador a finales de año y la entrada en servicio para 2014.
La asamblea Nacional, aprobó 14.2 billones de won (12,3 millones de dólares), tras varios debates en el parlamento. Ha sido siempre deseo de operar un avión mas grande y mayor que los actuales Boeing 737 VIP plane, en servicio desde 1985, solo pueden transportar 41 pasajeros y volar 3.400 kilómetros, por lo que tiene que repostar en vuelos de largo recorrido. Para solventar esta situación, el gobierno se ve obligado a utilizar alternativamente aviones de las aerolíneas de bandera, Korean Air y Asiana Airlines. Está previsto alquilar un Boeing 747-400 desde abril, hasta que llegue el nuevo avión. La capacidad del nuevo avión deberá ser de al menos 150 pasajeros y debe poder volar a Europa sin escalas. Los candidatos incluyen al Boeing 777 y Boeing 747-8, y el Airbus A340M.
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According Defense News, South Korea's arms procurement agency plans in April to release a request for proposals for its "VC-X" program to buy a presidential plane.
VC-X refers to VIP Cargo Unknown. Under the VC-X program, South Korea wants to introduce an up-to-date presidential plane by 2014.The National Assembly approved 14.2 billion won ($12.3 million) in December for the presidential jet procurement this year. The presidential office has long sought to operate a bigger, long-range presidential plane because the current Boeing 737 VIP plane, introduced in 1985, can only accommodate 41 passengers and has a maximum flight range of 3,400 kilometers, rendering it unable to fly out of Northeast Asia without refueling.
Against that backdrop, the Blue House charters flights in turn from the nation's two airliners, Korean Air and Asiana Airlines. It plans to lease a Boeing 747-400 airplane either from the two airliners from August for four years until a new VIP cargo plane arrives. For the VC-X, the presidential office wants an airplane with a seating capacity of about 150 and can make a non-stop flight to Europe.
Candidates include Boeing's 777 and 747-8 airplanes, and the Airbus A340M.