Defence Procurement – Maritime Helicopter Project – Updated to July 2004 Politics, Procurement Practices, and Procrastination: the Quarter-Century Sea King Helicopter Replacement Saga Stephen Priestley, CASR Researcher [ Update: This In Detail article was first published in June 2003. A decade later, the CH-124 Sea King maritime helicopter is still in service. In 2004, the CH-148 Cyclone was chosen as a replacement. However, it is anyone's guess as to when operational Cyclones will be available to replace the clapped-out CF Sea Kings. How have we arrived at this sorry state of affairs? Peter MacKay, the current MND has described the Maritime Helicopter Project the "worst procurement" effort in Canadian history. In hopes of detecting root causes for maladies of that Maritime Helicopter Project procurement, this article traces the origins of the project and the decisions made by both DND and the various governing parties beginning a staggering 36 years ago.] Part 5 — Open for Business: Contenders for the 'NSA' Requirement [ Part 1] 
The key contenders for the New Shipboard Aircraft Project were Sikorsky's S-70 (right, aka the US Navy's SH-60 ), Aérospatiale's SA332 Super Puma, and the EH Industries new EH-101. Of the three candidates, only the last had been specifically designed to be a direct replacement for the
Sea King.Should Some Smaller S-70 Sea Hawk Succeed Sikorsky's Stalwart Sea King? The S-70 Sea Hawk is quite a bit smaller than the Sea King. A navalized version of the US Army's UH-60 Black Hawk, two Sea Hawk models serve the US Navy – the 
SH-60B maritime warfare helicopter and the SH-60F ASW type. [1] The HH-60J JayHawk serves in the US Coast Guard. Since being adopted by the US Navy, Sikorsky's
Sea Hawk has been widely exported – including to Australia. [2]Puss in Boots — Aérospatiale's Revamped 'Master Cat' Gets Its Sea Legs As the name suggests, Aérospatiale's Super Puma was the nouvelle génération of an earlier design. [3] For the NSA, Aérospatiale submitted their maritime Super 
Puma, the AS332F (F is for Frégate) with the usual naval features such as a folding tail, 'beartrap' winch - down equipment, surface search radar, etc. The result, like the
SeaHawk, was a 'utility' helicopter design adapted to shipboard duties. And, like the S-70, AS332F was smaller than a Sea King.The third NSA contender, EH Industries' EH-101 will be reviewed on the next page. [1] SH-60Fs took over USN Sea Kings' ASW role but was not a direct replacement. [2] The RAAF had already bought S-70 Black Hawks to replace their Iroquois fleet. Replacing the RAN's Westland Sea Kings with Sea Hawks increased commonality. [3] Sud Aviation designed this SA330 Puma for the French army in 1963. Westland also produced Pumas in Britain for the RAF. Sud became a part of Aérospatiale in 1970 and their army utility helicopter was modernized and fitted with more powerful engines. The result was the AS332 Super Puma of 1977. In typical French fashion, the AS332 designation reflected Aérospatiale and the second major design change. Next in this In Detail series > Part 6 – Contenders for the NSA Project [ Part 2] CASR | In Detail | MHP Series Index | CH-124 Sea King | CH-148 Cyclone |