NEW GLASGOW, N.S. — Canada’s defence minister says questions about the delivery of the country’s new maritime helicopters will be answered Thursday.
Peter MacKay made the comments Tuesday night in New Glasgow, N.S., where he and the chief of the defence staff, Gen. Walter Natynczyk, met with cadets and reservists from MacKay’s Central Nova riding.
The helicopters, CH-148 Cyclones, are being produced by Sikorsky and are to replace the aging fleet of Sea Kings.
MacKay, who will speak to reporters Thursday at a Halifax-area news conference, admitted the helicopter program has faced a number of challenges.
He calls it “one of the worst examples of a military procurement that went badly.”
The Canadian government started looking at replacing the Sea Kings in the 1980s.
Delays in the helicopter project continued to pile up until the deal for 28 choppers was finally signed in 2004.
Deliveries were first scheduled for 2008. The government recently announced it would impose financial penalties on Sikorsky of up to $8 million for the most recent round of delays.
Last year, auditor general Sheila Fraser said the final bill for the new helicopters will be $6.2 billion when the cost of maintaining the Sea Kings through the delays is considered.
But MacKay said the program is now on the right track and they are in a position to take delivery of the full fleet.
Sea trials are underway and one helicopter is now at 12 Wing Shearwater in Nova Scotia for training. Sikorsky will hold its title and control until all contract details are met.
Given the program’s history, MacKay said the government would ensure all elements of the contract are met before signing off on the final deal.
“We want to make sure that we get exactly what we pay for. In fact, I would suggest when we do take final delivery, we will have a superior helicopter than what the original contract called for.”
If there is one silver lining to the delays, it is that the technology advancements made during that period are incorporated into the helicopters. The new choppers will be a superior model that will serve the Forces well into the future, said MacKay.
Before Canada takes final delivery of the helicopters, MacKay said they must also finish modifications to the frigates to be able to receive the helicopter. Pilots and maintenance crews are also going through training.
Natynczyk said he will observe the helicopter as it does trials with the frigate HMCS Montreal. He said the new choppers will make a huge difference.
“It’s absolutely an enormous quantum leap in terms of technology.”
(Halifax Chronicle Herald)