MOD Chinook Affair Is A 'Gold Standard Cock-Up', Says Chairman

The Ministry of Defence is feeling the heat as it has been uncovered that eight Chinook helicopters first ordered over a decade ago have yet to go into service.

The Common Public Accounts Committee Chairman Edward Leigh has condemned the MoD and has said the affair is a "gold standard cock-up".

"This is an unhappy state of affairs, made more acute by the knowledge of how much our soldiers in the hostile terrain of Afghanistan need helicopter support," he said.

A report by the Comptroller and Auditor General from the National Audit Office has left the MoD fighting a rearguard action, saying it was trying to get the Chinooks operating as soon as possible.

In 1995 the MoD ordered 14 Chinook Mk2a helicopters from Boeing of which six were retained as Mk2a and have been used in action, however, the other eight were modified as MK3 to meet a longstanding requirement for dedicated helicopters for special operations - costing in the region of £259 million.

According to the report, Boeing delivered the modified helicopters in 2001 but "the avionics software fell short of the United Kingdom military airworthiness" and the helicopters have not been employed into service.

The MoD had since made the decision to revert the Chinook Mk3 helicopters back to make them available for standard support helicopter operations, which they said will improve operational flexibility.

However, the report pointed out that the operational requirement to make additional helicopters available in Afghanistan meant that the March 2007 decision to revert the Chinook Mk3 was "made quickly and not based on the level of detailed analysis that would usually be expected for an investment of this magnitude".

Tim Burr, head of the National Audit Office, said: "Since 2001 the MOD has been trying to work out how to make the Chinook Mk3 helicopters available for operations. Its original 'Fix to Field' project progressed very slowly.

"In 2007 changing operational imperatives meant that the Department decided to start a new reversion project to make the helicopters operational more quickly, though with a lesser capability.

"The Chinook Mk3 story reemphasises the importance of timely decision making, clearly understanding requirements and proceeding purposefully to the solution."

The report states that the total costs associated with the Chinook Mk3s from their initial procurement through to completion of the 'Reversion' project will be in the region of £422 million – not including further expenditure required to sustain the night enhancement package required to meet "very low light missions".

Defence Equipment Minister Baroness Taylor of Bolton said "the Chinook is the most capable helicopter in Afghanistan" and the reversion project will "allow delivery of more Chinooks to theatre in the shortest time-frame". She added that "the total amount of flying time for all helicopters, including Chinooks, has increased by a third since March 2007".

Work to revert the Mk3s to standard Mk2/2a is now said to "proceeding well" and the MoD has also earmarked funds for resolving safety issues with night screens in existing aircraft – although it is not expected that this will be completed until after 2010.

The MoD operates a fleet of 40 Chinook Mk2/2a helicopters, primarily in support of Army and special operations.

(DS)