Other Maritime Helicopter matters

[buglerbilly]

Ares

A Defense Technology Blog

Maritime Helo Movement

Posted by Robert Wall at 7/26/2010 9:54 AM CDT

The Netherlands has taken delivery of its second NFH90 helicopter, the long-delayed maritime derivative of the NH90. The second of the rotorcraft was handed over last week. The Dutch military is the lead customer, although France also has one of the rotorcraft.

In so doing, the NFH90 appears to have yielded the unwelcome title of "troubled maritime helicopter program" to the Canadian CH-148 Cyclone.

The Canadian government says it has finally come to contractual terms with Sikorsky over the second re-baselining of the project. The contractor is still to hand over six CH-148s in an interim configuration -- as decided in 2008 when the program was first changed dramatically -- but now there is an acknowledgement that the interims will be more interim than first thought. Software development delays mean the sensor fusion elements will not be ready.

Canada still wants to get its first fully compliant CH-148s in mid-2012, with the first six in the interim standard to be upgraded to the full configuration by the end of 2013.

[buglerbilly]

Canada, Sikorsky Spell Out CH-148 Future

Jul 26, 2010



By Robert Wall wall@aviationweek.com
LONDON

The Canadian government and Sikorsky have come to a contractual agreement on how to handle the program changes on the CH-148 Cycle maritime helicopter program, which has suffered delays owing to software development problems.

The key issue, since late last year, has been the recognition that helicopters due for delivery this year in an interim standard would not meet the anticipated performance level. The interim helicopters will still be delivered by November, but will not feature a fully compliant mission system software. The goal remains to start delivery of helicopters that fully meet requirements in 2012.

As part of the contract changes, Sikorsky is providing another $80 million in “industrial and regional benefits” and would also pay royalties to Canada on export versions. Damage claims by the government are being set aside, but penalties would be reinstated if the November 2010 milestone for the interim systems is not met or the June 2012 deadline for the start of delivery of fully complaint CH-148s. Other changes address support, including extending in-service support of the C-148 fleet to March 2028.

Six interim helicopters are to be handed over to the Canadian government to support training and initial operational test and evaluation. Most of the sensors will be functional, but not, yet, fully integrated. Other shortfalls include the ability to exchange tactical data, a 21 min. flight endurance, and ability to operate on one engine at high temperatures.

The six helos in that standard are to be upgraded to the full operational standard by December 2013 for a fleet of 28 CH-148s. Sea King helos will continue to be operated until the replacement is fielded.

The November 2004 CH-148 contract called for the first helo to be handed over in early 2009. The program was rebaselined the first time in late 2008, when the interim configuration concept emerged.

Illustration: Sikorsky

[Unicorn]

other shortfalls include the ability to exchange tactical data, a 21 min. Flight endurance, and ability to operate on one engine at high temperatures.

wtf!?!

Unicorn

[Deks]

That must be a typo, or perhaps 21 minutes on one engine in high temperatures?

[buglerbilly]

Gentlemen,

I think you'll find the 21 minute duration relates to complete loss of Oil...............the ability to operate with one engine in high temps is separate to this.

[buglerbilly]

DATE:28/07/10

SOURCE:Flight International

Sikorsky accepts concessions to Canada after new CH-148 delays

By Stephen Trimble

The Canadian government has extracted new concessions worth hundreds of millions of dollars from Sikorsky, after revealing a new delay for its C$5 billion ($4.84 billion) order for 28 CH-148 Cyclones.

Six interim CH-148 maritime helicopters scheduled for delivery in November will lack operational software, maximum engine power, full endurance and automated datalinks, the Department of National Defence says in a background document released on 26 July.

The interim Cyclone fleet - a maritime variant of the H-92 - is itself a legacy of a previous delay. Under its original contract signed in 2004, Sikorsky was supposed to deliver the first CH-148 five years later. But Ottawa agreed in December 2008 to accept six interim helicopters in November 2010.

As a result of the latest delay, the DND has agreed to accept the six interim helicopters with limited capabilities to begin training operations. The remaining 22 aircraft will start arriving in June 2012 with full capability, it says, with the interim examples to be retrofitted and returned to service by December 2013.

In return, Sikorsky has agreed to accept several major concessions. The DND says it has restructured the milestone payment schedule, which reportedly involves freezing C$250 million previously owed to Sikorsky before the new delays were announced.

Sikorsky also has withdrawn claims believed to be valued at up to C$100 million in an arbitration process about previous contract changes, the DND says.

Canadian industry, meanwhile, will receive another C$80 million in investments by Sikorsky, and the government in Ottawa could receive royalties worth more than C$30 million on future sales of maritime helicopters by the company.

With full deliveries delayed by four years, Ottawa also shifted its 20-year in-service support contract, which will now end in 202

Sikorsky has not commented on the details of the new agreement, but says it supports the new terms. "We believe it is equitable to both the Canadian government and to Sikorsky," it says.