Helicopters grounded by purchasing
28 August 2012
The National Audit Office (NAO) has bitterly criticised flawed procurement practices that have delayed the introduction of badly needed Chinook helicopters into the UK armed forces by nine years.
Its report on battlefield helicopters said the Ministry of Defence's previous procurement practices meant that eight HC3 helicopters, expected to enter service in 1998, will not be ready until 2007.
It will cost £129 million to bring the helicopters up to standard, on top of the £259 million already spent by the MoD.
This week, the NAO said the procurement...