MINISTRY OF DEFENCE
News Release (050/2009) issued by COI News Distribution Service. 5
March 2009
Minister for
Defence Equipment and Support, Quentin Davies has today commented
on the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) report into the MoD's
procurement of eight Chinook Mk3 helicopters for the RAF.
This is the fourth report to deal with the Chinook MK3
helicopters and their procurement has been examined in great
detail, well-documented and lessons have been acted upon.
Minister for Defence Equipment and Support, Quentin Davies said:
"This is the fourth report which has focussed on the Chinook
Mk3 and it offers nothing new. This was a very bad case, and I
entirely accept the criticism that successive reports have made.
The contract was signed in 1997 - before the introduction of Smart
Procurement. Since then we have fundamentally changed our methods
of doing business, but this episode will remain a salutary example
to us all.
"I am sure that given the problems that existed with this
contract the decision to convert these eight aircraft to a support
helicopter role was the right one. This will enable us, subject to
operational requirements, to increase our Chinook fleet in
Afghanistan in 2010 - two years earlier than would otherwise have
been possible. This would build on the significant increases in
Chinook flying rates that we have already delivered. We are also
upgrading Lynx Mark 9 helicopters to improve their performance in
the hot and high conditions of Afghanistan and will be switching
the Merlins to Afghanistan once they have completed their mission
in Iraq - all of which will deliver a significant increase in
helicopter capability available to operational commanders in Afghanistan.
"Our priority is on giving military commanders in
Afghanistan the helicopters they need, and we have already
increased flying hours and helicopter numbers in Afghanistan by
60% over the last two years."
In addition we have deployed upgraded Sea King helicopters to
Afghanistan and acquired 6 new Merlin aircraft from Denmark to
increase our Merlin fleet by 25%.
Notes to Editors
1. On 11 December the Defence Secretary announced £70 million to
upgrade 12 Lynx Mark 9 helicopters with new engines, with the
first aircraft available by the end of 2009. Taken with the
Chinook Mark 3 reversion, the additional planned Apache capability
and the Merlins that we plan to move to Afghanistan once they have
completed their mission in Iraq, this will deliver a significant
increase in helicopter capability available to military
commanders. It also confirmed that the new Agusta Westland Future
Lynx helicopter will provide even greater operational capability
when it comes into service, as planned, in 2014. http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200809/cmhansrd/cm081211/wmstext/81211m0001.htm#08121142000016
2. On 20 May 2008 the Defence Secretary set out by WMS our
provision of battlefield helicopter capability. http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200708/cmhansrd/cm080520/wmstext/80520m0002.htm#08052041000013
3. On 30 March 2007, the then Defence Secretary announced that 14
additional helicopters (acquisition of 6 Danish Merlin and
conversion of 8 Chinook Mk3s) would be made available for military
operations. These additional platforms represent a 25% increase in
the UK's battlefield Merlin fleet and a 20% increase in the
numbers in the Chinook fleet.
4. The Chinook MK3 reversion programme remains the quickest route
to boosting our heavy lift helicopter fleet. It will allow us,
subject to operational requirements, to increase our Chinook fleet
in Afghanistan in 2010 - two years earlier than would otherwise
have been possible.
5. The Public Accounts Committee report into Chinook Mk3 follows
the PAC Hearing into Chinook Mk3 held on 18 June 2008. A National
Audit Office (NAO) report that led to the PAC hearing was
published on 4 June 2008.
6. Boeing is Prime Contractor for the conversion of the Chinook
Mk3 and has worked closely with the MoD on this programme. The
contract was signed on 14 Dec 07, at a value of $115M.
7. The Government's formal response to the PAC report
recommendations will be provided through a Treasury Minute.
8. For further information, please call MoD Press Office 020 7218
7714 or 020 7218 7950.