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 9 — Widening the 'New Shipboard Aircraft' Project Requirement Mulroney's fourth defence minister, Bill McKnight, had the reputation of a 'doer'. Great things were expected of him by pundits and insiders but little was actually achieved. The NSA Project chugged along at a leisurely pace but trouble loomed. 
By the end of the 1980s, the Sea King was becoming more of a liability than an asset to DND. These ASW helicopters had also become an embarrassment to the Canadian government. But DND
had another problem on its hands. Its CH-113 Labrador search-and-rescue helicopters bought in the same year as the Sea Kings were now faultering badly. Its maintenance hours were
skyrocketing, but the Labradors were also falling out of the sky at an alarming rate. Canadian Forces SAR Techs – personnel who risk their lives as a matter of
routine – began to fear the very aircraft they flew in. A rash of fatal accidents involving SAR Labradors finally brought things to a head.1991 — Adding a New SAR Helicopter Requirement to the NSA Project Belatedly tacking on new search-and-rescue aircraft to the New Shipboard Aircraft requirement would have economic benefits including a lower unit price per aircraft (and for spare parts) which accompany larger orders. The training of maintenance personnel and flight crews is also simplified, and staffing headaches reduced. But, an added SAR requirement would also encourage the ratcheting up of airframe size already seen in the Sea King Replacement Project. More gear means a bigger size. Merger — the New Shipboard Aircraft Project/New SAR Helicopter Project There was another ratcheting effect. Adding an SAR requirement also pushed up the total bill for the New Shipboard Aircraft order dramatically. DND's joint 'New Shipboard Aircraft Project / New SAR Helicopter Project ' called for 50 helicopters – 35 ASW Sea King replacements and 15 SAR types – at a total cost of $5.8B. Next in this In Detail series > Part 10 – NSA: 'Buy Now! Do Not Pay Until 1995! CASR | In Detail | MHP Series Index | CH-124 Sea King | CH-148 Cyclone |