THE HELICOPTER DEAL FROM HELL - ACQUISITION POLITICS

[TrexLink]

The Ottawa Citizen gives a good look into helicopter replacement, past and present.  www.canada.com/components/print.aspx?id=99de5056-1d13-4d31-8ff7-6135b652cd40

What is uncontested is that the project is in crisis. Sikorsky and Mr. Fortier, astonishingly, have been arguing over what was agreed to in the 2004 contract.

The range of proposals being talked about is quite wide, some with enormous ramifications for the size of the project. One possibility advanced by Sikorsky is for delivery of a bare airframe, to be filled later when the mission equipment is ready. Another suggestion revolves around Sikorsky's ongoing effort to win a $15-billion U.S. Air Force project to supply 141 combat-capable search-and-rescue choppers between 2012 and 2019.

Sikorsky's entry in this competition is the HH-92 SuperHawk, a heavier, substantially more capable helicopter than the one it is developing for Canada.

"Sikorsky has invested an enormous amount of money in the project, which will set the standard for this class of military helicopter," says Mr. Ashley. "They would like to be able to offer it to Canada, but it will cost billions more."

Former military executives currently involved with the Cyclone disagree that such an outcome is likely. "We'll work this out," said the executive at a key Sikorsky supplier. "Though it may take more money."

However, Canada is so far the only country to have purchased Sikorsky's MH-92 helicopter, leaving open the possibility that Canada's navy will be left with the worst of all worlds. It would be forced to operate two small fleets of choppers while even its major supplier, Sikorsky, concentrates on a different model from the one Canada is using.

Canada will have spent hundreds of millions of dollars more than Mr. Chrétien ever imagined, after pulling the plug on the EH-101 in the name of economy -- still without a workable helicopter or even a final budget.

And last, it is just possible that Sikorsky could push the Conservatives far enough that they give up and re-open the competition for the Cormorant and AgustaWestland once more.

It's unlikely, but with this project, where nothing ever seems to get delivered and no one has been held to account, it's an outcome that can't be dismissed.

Be afraid.  Be very afraid.

 

[Fishbone Jones]

Canada will have spent hundreds of millions of dollars more than Mr. Chrétien ever imagined, after pulling the plug on the EH-101 in the name of economy -- still without a workable helicopter or even a final budget.

IMHO, the project wasn't cancelled for the sake of the economy. Chretien never cared about the economy, unless the polls said Canadians cared, then he paid lip service to pretend he was doing something. As far as I'm concerned, it was political posturing by the liberals, to the detriment of the military and the taxpayer.

 

[54/102 CEF]

Not enough info to get a handle on what went off the rails - I suspect the machine didn't exist and the costs to produce a handful are the same to produce a US Level Fleet.

Its not surprising - the smart boys and girls inside requirements and procurement not having done a complex project - (not their fault) - now can`t get it right. One wag told me we'll always get the optimistic case approved and deliver the pessimistic case.

Moral

Keeping the military healthy means keeping the acquisition branch healthy, through thick or thin.

 

[a_majoor]

Since the S-92 (and presumably the HH-92) are built around the "Blackhawk's" drivetrain and rotor, these are not "orphaned" designs, so parts and maintainence would not be outlandishly expensive or hard to get, and I can see Sikorsky trying to sell Blackhawks to Canada on the basis of training and logistics economies.

As usual, the MSM takes one side of the story and blows it out of proportion and ignores the other parts of the equation. Is this good for Canada? Probably this will cause some delays and confusion, but not bring the project to a complete stop drop like the EH 101 cancellation did. I'm willing to wait and see.