Royal
04-07-2004, 02:03 AM
http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/media/images/40013000/jpg/_40013135_chinook203.jpg
At last. Someone's leaked it...
Blunders over software and equipment shortages meant British armed forces in Iraq were unable to use eight brand new helicopters, says an official watchdog.
The RAF was left with eight unusable Chinook helicopters worth £259m due to a "botched" procurement, the National Audit Office said.
Cockpit software concerns mean they cannot be flown in cloudy weather.
Fixing the problem will cost an estimated £127m and the Chinooks will remain grounded until at least 2007.
Britain's armed forces now have less than two-thirds of the required helicopter battlefield capability.
The Ministry of Defence admits, on current plans, that the shortfall will not be made good until 2017-2018.
But if it follows its own guidelines on rest and recuperation time for crew, the deficit could rise to as much as 66% of capability, the report said.
Cloudless skies
The Chinooks were originally supposed to be in service in 1998 but radar and other software developed under a separate contract would not fit in the cockpit, the NAO said.
Thanks to a massively botched job, they cannot be flown when there is a cloud in the sky
Edward Leigh MP
They are now restricted to flying above 500ft in cloudless skies with pilots using landmarks on the ground to navigate and can only be used on limited trial flights.
Tory MP Edward Leigh, chairman of the influential House of Commons public Accounts Committee, said the Chinook contract was "one of the most incompetent procurements of all time".
He said: "Thanks to a massively botched job, they cannot be flown when there is a cloud in the sky."
"Instead of desperately needed helicopters, the MoD might as well have bought eight turkeys. They can just get off the ground but cannot fly enough to be useful."
The report revealed that UK armed forces have to rely on the US military to recover personnel in operations, because the MoD's fleet of search and rescue helicopters does not have the resources to be deployed overseas.
It also revealed shortages in essential equipment, such as sand filters, communications technology and nuclear, biological and chemical protection for aircrew.
A shortage of sand filters meant only 24 Lynx helicopters were used in Iraq, rather than the mission requirement of at least 33, the report said.
Individual protection gear had to be rushed to Army helicopter air crews in the lead-up to the war, resulting in "inadequate training and support solutions".
Streamlining practices
The NAO has made a series of recommendations to help the MoD get the most out of its fleet while waiting for it to be brought back to full strength.
These include eliminating slippages in deliveries and streamlining training practices.
It also says the RAF and the Royal Navy should consider relaxing their rule that helicopters must be crewed by officers, and using less senior staff, as the army does.
More is to be done if the significant shortfall in helicopter capability is not to limit operations in the future
Sir John Bourn
The NAO said Britain's fleet was "arguably the most capable helicopter force in Europe" and recognised that "significant progress" had been made since the MoD's Joint Helicopter Command had been set up in 1999.
Auditor General Sir John Bourn said helicopters had played a vital role in operations in Iraq.
"However, more is to be done if the significant shortfall in helicopter capability is not to limit operations in the future", he added.
In a statement, the MoD said: "The MoD acknowledges the report's findings of a capability shortfall, particularly in the support helicopter area.
"Much of that derives from increases in operational requirements that have evolved over recent years. The MoD is currently in the early stages of planning the next generation of its battlefield helicopter capability, and is preparing for significant investment in future platforms."
The statement said the Ministry a new procurement strategy of "smart acquisition" would enable greater risk reduction "up front".
BTW - the problem with the SAR capacity is because the airframes were privatised (and are civilian models no use on operations).
At last. Someone's leaked it...
Blunders over software and equipment shortages meant British armed forces in Iraq were unable to use eight brand new helicopters, says an official watchdog.
The RAF was left with eight unusable Chinook helicopters worth £259m due to a "botched" procurement, the National Audit Office said.
Cockpit software concerns mean they cannot be flown in cloudy weather.
Fixing the problem will cost an estimated £127m and the Chinooks will remain grounded until at least 2007.
Britain's armed forces now have less than two-thirds of the required helicopter battlefield capability.
The Ministry of Defence admits, on current plans, that the shortfall will not be made good until 2017-2018.
But if it follows its own guidelines on rest and recuperation time for crew, the deficit could rise to as much as 66% of capability, the report said.
Cloudless skies
The Chinooks were originally supposed to be in service in 1998 but radar and other software developed under a separate contract would not fit in the cockpit, the NAO said.
Thanks to a massively botched job, they cannot be flown when there is a cloud in the sky
Edward Leigh MP
They are now restricted to flying above 500ft in cloudless skies with pilots using landmarks on the ground to navigate and can only be used on limited trial flights.
Tory MP Edward Leigh, chairman of the influential House of Commons public Accounts Committee, said the Chinook contract was "one of the most incompetent procurements of all time".
He said: "Thanks to a massively botched job, they cannot be flown when there is a cloud in the sky."
"Instead of desperately needed helicopters, the MoD might as well have bought eight turkeys. They can just get off the ground but cannot fly enough to be useful."
The report revealed that UK armed forces have to rely on the US military to recover personnel in operations, because the MoD's fleet of search and rescue helicopters does not have the resources to be deployed overseas.
It also revealed shortages in essential equipment, such as sand filters, communications technology and nuclear, biological and chemical protection for aircrew.
A shortage of sand filters meant only 24 Lynx helicopters were used in Iraq, rather than the mission requirement of at least 33, the report said.
Individual protection gear had to be rushed to Army helicopter air crews in the lead-up to the war, resulting in "inadequate training and support solutions".
Streamlining practices
The NAO has made a series of recommendations to help the MoD get the most out of its fleet while waiting for it to be brought back to full strength.
These include eliminating slippages in deliveries and streamlining training practices.
It also says the RAF and the Royal Navy should consider relaxing their rule that helicopters must be crewed by officers, and using less senior staff, as the army does.
More is to be done if the significant shortfall in helicopter capability is not to limit operations in the future
Sir John Bourn
The NAO said Britain's fleet was "arguably the most capable helicopter force in Europe" and recognised that "significant progress" had been made since the MoD's Joint Helicopter Command had been set up in 1999.
Auditor General Sir John Bourn said helicopters had played a vital role in operations in Iraq.
"However, more is to be done if the significant shortfall in helicopter capability is not to limit operations in the future", he added.
In a statement, the MoD said: "The MoD acknowledges the report's findings of a capability shortfall, particularly in the support helicopter area.
"Much of that derives from increases in operational requirements that have evolved over recent years. The MoD is currently in the early stages of planning the next generation of its battlefield helicopter capability, and is preparing for significant investment in future platforms."
The statement said the Ministry a new procurement strategy of "smart acquisition" would enable greater risk reduction "up front".
BTW - the problem with the SAR capacity is because the airframes were privatised (and are civilian models no use on operations).