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MoD accused of Chinook 'cock-up' MoD accused of Chinook 'cock-up'
(about 2 hours later)
The Ministry of Defence has been accused of a "gold standard cock-up" over eight helicopters which have cost £422m but have yet to fly for the RAF.The Ministry of Defence has been accused of a "gold standard cock-up" over eight helicopters which have cost £422m but have yet to fly for the RAF.
Commons public accounts committee chairman Sir Edward Leigh said the Chinooks had been "languishing" while troops in Afghanistan needed aircraft. Commons public accounts committee chairman Edward Leigh said the Chinooks had been "languishing" while troops in Afghanistan needed aircraft.
A National Audit Office report says a string of problems have seen their £259m cost soar since delivery in 2001.A National Audit Office report says a string of problems have seen their £259m cost soar since delivery in 2001.
The MoD said it was trying to get the Chinooks operating as soon as possible.The MoD said it was trying to get the Chinooks operating as soon as possible.
The helicopters, which are modified Mark 3 (Mk3) Chinooks and were first ordered in 1995, are to be "reverted” to standard Mk2/2a models to get them to the field quicker. The helicopters, which are modified Mark 3 (Mk3) Chinooks and were first ordered in 1995, are to be "reverted¿ to standard Mk2/2a models to get them to the field quicker.
In the meantime, the MoD has added night-vision equipment to some of its standard Chinooks to enable them to carry out the sort of special forces missions the new Mk3s were intended for. This is a very unhappy state of affairs, made more acute by the knowledge of how much our soldiers in the hostile terrain of Afghanistan need helicopter support Sir Edward Leigh Fact file: Chinook'Sorry saga' of UK's Chinooks In the meantime, the MoD has added night-vision equipment to some of its standard Chinooks to enable them to carry out the sort of special forces missions the new Mk3s were intended for. This is a very unhappy state of affairs, made more acute by the knowledge of how much our soldiers in the hostile terrain of Afghanistan need helicopter support Edward Leigh Fact file: Chinook'Sorry saga' of UK's Chinooks
But the NAO says the stop-gap fix has raised serious safety fears as staff say the equipment reduced pilots' normal visibility.But the NAO says the stop-gap fix has raised serious safety fears as staff say the equipment reduced pilots' normal visibility.
Defence Equipment Minister Baroness Taylor of Bolton said that the reversion of the Chinooks to the Mk2 configuration was one of several steps the MoD was taking to increase helicopter numbers in Afghanistan.Defence Equipment Minister Baroness Taylor of Bolton said that the reversion of the Chinooks to the Mk2 configuration was one of several steps the MoD was taking to increase helicopter numbers in Afghanistan.
She said: "The Chinook is the most capable support helicopter in Afghanistan. Based on operational need, the reversion project will allow delivery of more Chinooks to theatre in the shortest time-frame.She said: "The Chinook is the most capable support helicopter in Afghanistan. Based on operational need, the reversion project will allow delivery of more Chinooks to theatre in the shortest time-frame.
"It is one of several steps being taken to increase helicopter lift capability for operations including the acquisition of new state of the art blades for Sea Kings."It is one of several steps being taken to increase helicopter lift capability for operations including the acquisition of new state of the art blades for Sea Kings.
"The total amount of flying time for all helicopters, including Chinooks, has increased by a third since March 2007.""The total amount of flying time for all helicopters, including Chinooks, has increased by a third since March 2007."
Sir Edward, whose committee oversees the work of the NAO, strongly condemned the MoD's handling of the whole affair. Mr Leigh, whose committee oversees the work of the NAO, strongly condemned the MoD's handling of the whole affair.
He said: "The Ministry of Defence's programme to make airworthy the eight Chinook Mk3 helicopters, which it acquired in 2001 for special operations work, has been a gold standard cock-up.He said: "The Ministry of Defence's programme to make airworthy the eight Chinook Mk3 helicopters, which it acquired in 2001 for special operations work, has been a gold standard cock-up.
"Nearly seven years since they were delivered, the Chinook Mk3s are still languishing in climate-controlled hangers - despite the fact that they are desperately needed on operations in Afghanistan."Nearly seven years since they were delivered, the Chinook Mk3s are still languishing in climate-controlled hangers - despite the fact that they are desperately needed on operations in Afghanistan.
"This is a very unhappy state of affairs, made more acute by the knowledge of how much our soldiers in the hostile terrain of Afghanistan need helicopter support.""This is a very unhappy state of affairs, made more acute by the knowledge of how much our soldiers in the hostile terrain of Afghanistan need helicopter support."
The aircraft were originally ordered by the MoD in 1995 at a cost of £259m.The aircraft were originally ordered by the MoD in 1995 at a cost of £259m.
Cockpit softwareCockpit software
To make them suitable for special forces operations, they were configured as the hi-tech Chinook Mk3, equipped with extra "fat" fuel tanks, night-vision equipment and enhanced defensive aids.To make them suitable for special forces operations, they were configured as the hi-tech Chinook Mk3, equipped with extra "fat" fuel tanks, night-vision equipment and enhanced defensive aids.
They were delivered in 2001 but have been beset by problems with their cockpit software.They were delivered in 2001 but have been beset by problems with their cockpit software.
Deemed safe to fly only at altitudes above 500ft in clear conditions when the pilot could navigate by sight, they were useless for special forces work and so have been confined to special air-conditioned hangars in Wiltshire.Deemed safe to fly only at altitudes above 500ft in clear conditions when the pilot could navigate by sight, they were useless for special forces work and so have been confined to special air-conditioned hangars in Wiltshire.
Efforts to rectify the problems were abandoned last year when the government decided it was more important to increase the number of basic helicopters available for operations in Afghanistan.Efforts to rectify the problems were abandoned last year when the government decided it was more important to increase the number of basic helicopters available for operations in Afghanistan.
The NAO says work to "revert" them to standard Mk2/2a Chinooks is proceeding well, though the cost has soared from £53m to £90m.The NAO says work to "revert" them to standard Mk2/2a Chinooks is proceeding well, though the cost has soared from £53m to £90m.
This is in addition to the £32m the MoD has spent on its stop-gap solution of fitting infrared night-screens to existing aircraft.This is in addition to the £32m the MoD has spent on its stop-gap solution of fitting infrared night-screens to existing aircraft.
The MoD says it has earmarked funds for resolving the safety fears associated with the screens but this will not be completed until after 2010.The MoD says it has earmarked funds for resolving the safety fears associated with the screens but this will not be completed until after 2010.