Rival aircraft makers could replace aging Sea Kings
Posted Oct 5, 2013 10:47:23 AM.
This article is more than 5 years old.
OTTAWA – The long-running saga of acquiring replacements for Canada’s aging Sea Kings has taken yet another turn.
The Canadian Press has learned that government officials have asked rival aircraft makers if they can step in if the troubled CH-148 Cyclone helicopter program is cancelled. A government official confirmed a meeting took place in Ottawa on Thursday. Sources tell the Canadian Press it involved executives of Cyclone manufacturer Sikorsky and rivals AgustaWestland and N-H Industries.
The Harper government has made it clear it’s looking at alternatives to the Cyclone, even sending an air force team to Britain to check out the Royal Navy’s Merlin helicopters built by AgustaWestland. In the early 90’s, Brian Mulroney’s government ordered 50 helicopters that were variants of the Merlin, but the deal was cancelled by Jean Chretien’s Liberals.
Sikorsky has been under contract since 2004 to deliver 28 Cyclones, but so far only four “test” versions have been delivered to the military, which is concerned about whether they meet requirements.
