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25-03-10, 02:43 AM
U.S. Eyes Possible 'Bridge' Helos To Assist Mexican Drug War
By JOHN T. BENNETT
Published: 24 Mar 2010 16:50
U.S. defense officials are mulling "a bridge of capabilities" for the Mexican government to bolster its fight against drug cartels until a previously planned helicopter package can be delivered.
Defense Secretary Robert Gates, who was just in Mexico for talks with government leaders, said he is concerned about how long it is taking to get helicopters to America's troubled southern neighbor.
As part of the U.S.-Mexico Merida Initiative, more than $415 million was appropriated under Foreign Military Financing (FMF) accounts in fiscal 2008 and 2009 to purchase "up to eight Bell 412 helicopters, up to five Sikorsky UH-60M helicopters, and also purchase of up to four CASA 235 aircraft, which are fixed-wing naval surveillance and transport aircraft," said Pentagon spokesman Lt. Col. Les Melnyk.
Only a handful of those platforms have been delivered, however.
During a March 24 hearing, House Appropriations defense subcommittee member Rep. Kay Granger, R-Texas, said she had heard accounts that "processes" at U.S. Army's Aviation and Missile Command (AMCOM) are delaying getting the helicopters to Mexico.
Gates said the contractors are pushing out new helicopters as fast as possible but demand is high. And if Congress signs off on the Pentagon's helicopter plans in its fiscal 2011 budget request, the demand will get even higher. The spending plan seeks billions for additional Black Hawk, CH-47 Chinook and MH-60R/S helicopters.
Pentagon officials estimate the increased demand, primarily driven by the Afghanistan conflict, will push the Mexican deliveries to 2012 or 2013.
During the recent meetings with Mexican officials, Gates said the message was clear. He told the subcommittee that the Mexican officials told the U.S. delegation: "The house is on fire now."
Saying he is "sensitive" to the need to help Mexico in its destabilizing struggle against the cartels, Gates said he "will look at all possibilities to get [Mexico] some bridge of capabilities" until the previously planned helicopter shipment is ready for delivery.
Pentagon policy officials already are examining the issue, Melnyk said.
"At Secretary Gates' direction," the spokesman said, "we are looking at all options to provide the Merida FMF-funded equipment or comparable capabilities to the Mexicans as soon as possible."
By JOHN T. BENNETT
Published: 24 Mar 2010 16:50
U.S. defense officials are mulling "a bridge of capabilities" for the Mexican government to bolster its fight against drug cartels until a previously planned helicopter package can be delivered.
Defense Secretary Robert Gates, who was just in Mexico for talks with government leaders, said he is concerned about how long it is taking to get helicopters to America's troubled southern neighbor.
As part of the U.S.-Mexico Merida Initiative, more than $415 million was appropriated under Foreign Military Financing (FMF) accounts in fiscal 2008 and 2009 to purchase "up to eight Bell 412 helicopters, up to five Sikorsky UH-60M helicopters, and also purchase of up to four CASA 235 aircraft, which are fixed-wing naval surveillance and transport aircraft," said Pentagon spokesman Lt. Col. Les Melnyk.
Only a handful of those platforms have been delivered, however.
During a March 24 hearing, House Appropriations defense subcommittee member Rep. Kay Granger, R-Texas, said she had heard accounts that "processes" at U.S. Army's Aviation and Missile Command (AMCOM) are delaying getting the helicopters to Mexico.
Gates said the contractors are pushing out new helicopters as fast as possible but demand is high. And if Congress signs off on the Pentagon's helicopter plans in its fiscal 2011 budget request, the demand will get even higher. The spending plan seeks billions for additional Black Hawk, CH-47 Chinook and MH-60R/S helicopters.
Pentagon officials estimate the increased demand, primarily driven by the Afghanistan conflict, will push the Mexican deliveries to 2012 or 2013.
During the recent meetings with Mexican officials, Gates said the message was clear. He told the subcommittee that the Mexican officials told the U.S. delegation: "The house is on fire now."
Saying he is "sensitive" to the need to help Mexico in its destabilizing struggle against the cartels, Gates said he "will look at all possibilities to get [Mexico] some bridge of capabilities" until the previously planned helicopter shipment is ready for delivery.
Pentagon policy officials already are examining the issue, Melnyk said.
"At Secretary Gates' direction," the spokesman said, "we are looking at all options to provide the Merida FMF-funded equipment or comparable capabilities to the Mexicans as soon as possible."