more:
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/ArticleNews/TPStory/LAC/20040724/HELI24/TPNational/TopStoriesThe 28 American-made military helicopters the federal government intends to purchase for $5-billion are smaller and weaker than the machines made by the losing bidder, and the price difference between the two is minute, sources said yesterday.
But the Sikorsky bid reportedly came in just about 1 per cent under that submitted for the EH-101. "The difference in price was razor thin but the Cormorant bid was found unacceptable," a source said, refusing to divulge the bottom line on the proposed EH-101 contract.
He suggested that argument made no sense given the government had bought Cormorants in 1998 for $790-million when the military needed 15 helicopters to replace its search-and-rescue fleet.
But Mr. Chrétien was widely known to have been infuriated by that decision and the Liberals have seemed determined to prevent it from happening again -- so much so that Team Cormorant has repeatedly complained about discrimination.
Tale of the tape
Defence Minister Bill Graham insists Canada got the helicopter the military wanted at the best price for the taxpayers. But it's not easy to compare the newly named H-92 Cyclone being developed by Sikorsky Aircraft Corp. with its man competitor, the EH-101 from AgustaWestland Inc. There are more than 90 EH-101 choppers flying military missions today while Canada is the first country to buy the Cyclone.
EH-101
Maximum load:...6,072 kg
Number of engines:...3
Passenger capacity:...40
Capabilities: The EH-101 is a heavier helicopter than the Cyclone and has proven itself as a search-and-rescue and surveillance aircraft. Both helicopters boast state of the art submarine detection devices and can be fully equipped for search- and-rescue missions and maritime patrols.
Strengths: The EH-101 is a proven helicopter with an established track record of performing in harsh marine environments.
Weaknesses: The selection of the EH-101 would have created political embarrassment for the Liberals, who had rejected it in 1993 as too expensive. The EH -101 is larger and more powerful, but costs more to buy and operate.
Thumbnail history: The EH-101 was developed by Agusta of Italy and GKN Westland Helicopter of Britain in the early 1980s in a collaborative effort involving companies across western Europe to produce a powerful military machine with advance weaponry and self-defence systems. That chopper was rejected by the Liberals in Canada in 1993, but in 1998 Canada purchased 15 EH-101 Cormorants for search and rescue missions. EH boasts the Cormorant is the most capable long-range search and rescue helicopter in the world.
H-92
Maximum load:...5,216 kg
Number of engines:...2
Passenger capacity:...22
Cost: The bill for the 28 Sikorsky helicopters and a 20-year service and training program is $5-billion. Public Works Minister Scott Brison and Mr. Graham both insist the Cyclones were cheaper than the EH-101s, but won't say what the difference was between the two bids.
Strengths: The Cyclone, which is still in the development stage, provides more work for the Canadian aerospace industries and allows the military to provide input on what the new aircraft will look like.
Weaknesses: Defence analysts say t is also smaller, exists only in prototypes and has yet to prove itself in the air.
Thumbnail history: The S-92 and H-92 aircraft were created by Sikorsky in the late 1990s as the next generation of medium-range helicopters to follow the Sea King. The company boasts they have incorporated the ruggedness of the famous Black Hawk helicopters in an affordable medium-range model chopper with economical performance.
http://www.canoe.ca/NewsStand/EdmontonSun/News/2004/07/24/pf-555195.html
the reason why: more money to Liberal-heavy ridings, more cash in Liberal voter pockets = more dead Canadian servicemembers.
http://www.canada.com/victoria/timescolonist/news/business/story.html?id=ac6aab32-7430-4560-adc7-9a1954c5b5ce
With the contract, Sikorsky has committed itself to invest $4.5 billion in "industrial activity" across Canada, which will involve subcontracts to aerospace and defence companies in Canada over the next 20 years.
Although the Cyclone -- the name given to the military version of Sikorsky's H-92 Superhawk helicopter -- is an American product, Sikorsky is obligated under Canada's Industrial and Regional Benefits Policy to place a certain amount of the work in Canada.
Sikorsky said Friday it will partner with 170 Canadian firms, with most regions of Canada being "home to significant portions of project activity," including $1 billion in subcontracts to Atlantic Canada firms and $37 million to aboriginal businesses.
Aerospace companies in Ontario and Quebec, home to Canada's traditional major aerospace centres, will get $2 billion and $955 million in work respectively. Western Canadian companies are to receive $390 million in contracts.
General Dynamics Canada, an Ottawa-based unit of General Dynamics Corp. of Falls Church, Va., will be responsible for systems integration and a mission data management system. L-3 MAS Canada, a division of L-3 Communications of New York, which bought Spar Aerospace in 2001, will provide in-service support from its Mirabel, Que., facility.
The contract will create hundreds of jobs over 20 years in Mirabel, Ottawa, and the base in Shearwater, N.S., where pilots will be trained, said L-3 president Sylvain Bedard.
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/ArticleNews/TPStory/LAC/20040724/EHELI24/TPComment/Editorialshttp://www.canada.com/victoria/timescolonist/news/story.html?id=4c8456e2-f013-4ff7-b41e-c2d252618d4bhttp://www.torontosun.com/NewsStand/TorontoSun/Editorial/home.html