Procurement bungle disables UK Chinook Mk3s for eight years
26 Aug 2009
In what can be looked upon as a classic example of how defence procurement processes can go wrong, it is now revealed that a batch of eight high-tech British Chinook Mk3 military helicopters have remained out of service for eight years due to a software problem.
According to The Times newspaper, the problem occurred when UK ministry of defence officials tried to save money by installing their own avionics software rather than using Boeing's original software for the helicopters.
A National Audit Office report last year found that British officials had failed to ask for the software access code when they ordered the helicopters. Boeing then refused to provide the code, citing intellectual property rights.
The MoD has admitted its error but denies it had been trying to save money.
The Chinooks were handed over to the army in 2001 at a cost of £259 million ($424.60 million).
The Times report points out that by the time the Chinooks, now being converted to standard version helicopters, enter service costs will have escalated to at least £500 million.
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