AugustaWestland SpA has filed a judicial protest against Eurocopter SAS after the latter secured a court order to stop the tendering process to supply the Armed Forces of Malta with a helicopter.

The AFM is looking to buy one helicopter, with an option for another two, to replace its ageing Alouettes that were donated by Libya in the mid-1980s. Money from the European Borders Control Fund has been secured for the project.

AugustaWestland filed their protest through local representative, Viroc Limited. In its protest, it rebutted claims made by Eurocopter SAS, alleging irregularities which led to an unfair advantage in its regard.

Last week, Mr Justice Joseph Zammit Mckeon issued a temporary warrant of prohibitory injunction after Eurocopter protested it had been unfairly excluded from the bidding process.

It argued that the deal, worth about €58 million, was practically awarded to AugustaWestland because of its unfair exclusion.

Eurocopter had sought reconsideration through the Public Contracts Review Board but, dissatisfied with the outcome, took the matter to court.

AugustaWestland SpA said in its protest it was not true that the goal posts had been moved.

It added that Eurocopter had every opportunity to require clarifications early on in the process but chose not to.

It said that Eurocopter was trying to influence the public tender through alternative judicial proceedings and called on it to stop making false allegations in its regard.