Globe and Mail
Sikorsky attacks rival military copter
Manufacturers shed gloves in fight to replace Canada's aging Sea Kings
By DANIEL LEBLANC
Thursday, June 5, 2003 - Page A4
OTTAWA -- The helicopter war took off yesterday as Sikorsky launched a surprise attack against Team Cormorant's EH-101, and the two companies shed their gloves in the $3-billion race to replace Canada's 40-year-old Sea Kings.
One Cormorant official called it a "pissing contest" as the two manufacturers compared the size and strength of their products, which they hope to sell to the Canadian Forces in coming months.
U.S.-based Sikorsky, which has entered its brand-new H-92 in the race, offered a presentation to The Globe and Mail, stating that its aircraft is faster, stronger, cheaper to maintain and safer.
The Cormorant has long been seen as the Canadian Forces' first choice for a new helicopter, since it has three engines rather than two, and offers more power and size than its competitors. Prime Minister Jean Chrétien has referred to the EH-101 as a Cadillac.
But Sikorsky took a series of shots at the Cormorant, bringing its lobbying campaign to win the contract out into the open. Sikorsky's attacks took Cormorant officials by surprise. They were in meetings with the Department of National Defence all day.
Nick Lappos, project director for Sikorsky's H-92, said his company's aircraft is the best equipment for Canada, even if it has yet to be sold to any military force in the world. Mr. Lappos said the H-92 can carry 1,000 kilograms more than the Cormorant in tough weather conditions:
"Wherever you go, the H-92 carries more than the EH-101."
He added that the Sikorsky's cruising speed of 280 kilometres an hour is faster than the Cormorant's absolute speed limit of 277 km/h and is more fuel-efficient.
Officials from Team Cormorant were outraged, accusing Sikorsky of being hysterical. They said Sikorsky "manipulated" data to try to bring down the Cormorant.
Larry McWha of Team Cormorant said his company's craft is as fast as the H-92 and a lot more powerful than Sikorsky's numbers show. He said that Sikorsky took numbers from a variety of sources, relating to different variants of the Cormorant, to make their own H-92 aircraft look better.
"I'm not going to call them [Sikorsky] liars, but they have obviously taken some numbers wherever it was convenient."
Team Cormorant officials also made reference to a government document dated July, 2001, stating that Sikorsky was not capable of meeting the draft requirements for the Canadian Forces at the time. The document said that in hot weather, Sikorsky faced a "performance shortfall" of 1,000 kg in lift capability.
The other competitor in the race is the European NH-90, built by the French-led consortium NHIndustries. Officials from that aircraft manufacturer told The Globe last month that their helicopter meets all of Canada's requirements at the best price.
The contract to replace the Sea Kings will be awarded to the bidder that meets all the Forces' requirements, at lowest cost.
Team Cormorant has been arguing for a process whereby the contract can go to a higher bidder if its product is markedly better.