Canada Mulls Cyclone Alternatives
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Four CH-148s produced to an interim standard are stationed at the air force's 12 Wing Shearwater base. However, no flight activities are taking place with the aircraft. Procurement body Public Works and Government Services Canada (PWGSC) says: "The government expects suppliers to meet their contractual obligations, and Canada will not accept the helicopters until contractual requirements are met.
"Sikorsky has yet to deliver contractually compliant helicopters to Canada."Ottawa has already levied fines of $88.6 million on Sikorsky, which it intends to offset against payments due under a support contract for sustainment of the helicopters. However, the US manufacturer could face the ultimate sanction of being dismissed from the contract entirely. PWGSC has already tasked an external consultant to report on "the viability" of the Cyclone programme – in other words, whether Sikorsky will ever be able to deliver fully compliant aircraft.
"The review by the consultant is not yet finalised," says PWGSC. "Upon completion the government will carefully consider the recommendations as well as consider all options, to ensure we protect taxpayers' interests and get the right helicopter for our men and women in uniform."
AgustaWestland was victorious with the AW101 in an earlier contest for the requirement, but that programme was cancelled in 1993. And to add even more weight to AgustaWestland's argument, an earlier variant of the rotorcraft is already in service with the air force, operating search and rescue missions as the CH-149 Cormorant.
Canada's need for new maritime helicopters is becoming ever-more pressing as its fleet of Sikorsky CH-124 Sea Kings marks a half-century of service this year. Sikorsky was not immediately available to comment.
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