"Sir John Howard" <pmjwhowardj@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> wrote in message
news:b7e44de1-bfd1-45f7-8d6d-29765b5009e8@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> Seasprites cancelled on safety grounds
>
> http://www.news.com.au/story/0,23599,23323537-2,00.html
>
>
>
> A DECISION to cancel the troubled Seasprite helicopter project, after
> it has already cost taxpayers up to $1.3 billion, was made on safety
> grounds alone, Defence Minister Joel Fitzgibbon said today.
>
> Mr Fitzgibbon said that after a review, the Government had concluded
> it had no real choice but to cancel the deal, which is now running 10
> years late.
>
> "The project had to be cancelled on safety grounds alone," he said.
>
> "The airworthiness and crash worthiness of the aircraft was not up to
> 21st century standards and it was pretty clear the capability was not
> likely to be delivered in full.
>
> "Even if it were, it would be another three years and therefore a
> decade late.
>
> "Capability has moved on so much since then. It's like going to the
> 2018 Bathurst race with a 2008 Holden."
>
> Under the deal signed in 1997, the navy was to acquire 11 Kaman
> Seasprite helicopters equipped with modern flight control systems and
> advanced radar and weapons systems. The first were to be delivered in
> 2001.
>
> They were to operate from the navy's Anzac frigates.
>
> The helicopters would have had old but refurbished airframes, some
> dating from the 1960s.
>
> But developing the advanced combat system proved difficult, as did
> fitting the flight control system, and the project was plagued by
> delays.
>
> Mr Fitzgibbon said the former coalition government made a decision in
> May last year to persevere with the project, placing its own political
> interests ahead of the interests of defence and the taxpayer.
>
> "Im****tantly, $26 million has been spent on the project since May last
> year," he said.
>
> "I questioned whether they followed the process which delivered the
> best value for the taxpayer and the Australian Defence Force."
>
> Mr Fitzgibbon said Australia had already spent $950 million on the
> project.
>
> "When you add the Penguin missile project to it, we are getting up
> towards around $1.3 billion," he said.
>
> Australia has already bought the missiles, which are in storage.
>
> Mr Fitzgibbon said that as an interim measure, efforts would be made
> to boost the navy's fleet of 16 Seahawk helicopters.
>
> The upcoming defence White Paper would examine future options, with
> the naval version of the NH-90 helicopter, now entering army service,
> a strong contender to replace the Seahawks, Seasprites and Sea Kings.
>
> Opposition defence spokesman Nick Minchin said the Opposition accepted
> today's decision, although some im****tant questions remained about the
> costs of exiting the contract and the potential gap to naval aviation
> capability.
>
> He said the Seasprite project was initiated by the Keating Labor
> government in 1994, with tenders let in 1995. The Howard government
> inherited the project in 1996 and the contract was signed in 1997.
>
> "Over time the government became increasingly concerned about the
> prime contractor's ability to deliver the contracted capability."
>
> Senator Minchin said former defence minister, now Opposition Leader
> Brendan Nelson, recommended to the National Security Committee (NSC)
> of Cabinet last year that the project be cancelled.
>
> "Given the near $1 billion that had been invested in the project, NSC
> reluctantly decided to continue with the project with strict
> performance milestones," he said.
>
> "If Mr Fitzgibbon is correct in his view that those performance
> milestones have not been met, the opposition sup****ts his decision to
> cancel the contract."
>
> --------------------------
>
> Can anyone say razor gang?
you have to be as silly as your hero bringing up one of his biggest
mistakes.
Can any one say stupid gang no out out.
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