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Canadian Defence Procurement — updated and revised January 2004
Politics, Procurement Practices, and Procrastination:
the Quarter-Century Sea King Helicopter
Replacement Saga
Part 17 — “... Go hence,
to have more talk of these sad things ...”
The Maritime Helicopter Project has almost run its course. All that is left is to choose between the two
remaining candidates. Both have their pros and cons.
Sikorsky’s H-92 Superhawk proved to be too much helicopter for the twin engines of its S-92
progenitor. To ensure H-92 performance, Sikorsky will switch to new, more powerful engines. [1]
Unfortunately, this ‘fix’ also introduces problems – the new powerplants will have less in
common with the engines in serving Cormorant SAR helicopters
and, will delay the delivery date of production H-92s perilously close to the planned MHP entry into CF
service. If the H-92 were to hit the tiniest development snags, the CF would be stuck operating the
Sea Kings.
Advantages of AgustaWestland’s EH-101 include being
selected winner of the earlier NSA requirement (which
the MHP inherits) and maximum commonality with Cormorant
SAR helicopters. EH-101s are in production but naval orders are complete – which should ensure quick
deliveries to the CF if selected. This is a large, heavy helicopter but DND already knows that. The 1970s
technology [2] is not as young as it once was but, like helicopters, tempus fugit.
Astute readers will have noticed that no mention has been made of these airframe manufacturers’ Canadian
“partners”. Here we wear on biases on our sleeve. The integration of these helicopters
with their avionics has been an expensive mistake from the beginning. Obviously, the avionics and aircraft must
be linked. Elevating this combination into ‘integrated systems’, however, is mostly marketing
voodoo. Mission systems are like any other electronic components. They are complicated and their disparate
parts must function together. Beyond that, “plug and play”.
[1] The H-92 first flew at the end of 1998 but substituting the CT7-8C engines may push delivery of the first
production Superhawk back to 2008.
[2] In fairness, H-92s might also be called 1970s technology using as they do the S-70 dynamic system.
Aviation gestation periods have become rather protracted.
> Part 16 — “... We had joy,
we had fun; we had Sea Kings in the Sun ...”
> Part 18 — Conclusions:
“... Some shall be pardoned, and some punishèd”
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