From the
Toronto Sun :
Copter bidder decides to quit
NH90 deal won't fly
By STEPHANIE RUBEC, OTTAWA BUREAU
OTTAWA -- One of four consortiums vying for the lucrative contract to replace the Canadian Forces' Sea King helicopters has dropped out of the race. NH Industries has withdrawn the NH90 helicopter that it was pitching until this week as "the world's most technologically advanced maritime helicopter" and a great replacement for Canada's 40-year-old maritime choppers.
NH Industries, largely owned by Eurocopter, was selling the NH90 as an off-the-shelf package deal.
Olivier Francou, NH Industries spokesperson, said the model was withdrawn because it doesn't meet the contract requirements for Canadian investment.
INVESTMENT RULES
The defence department requires bidders to lay out a plan to invest the amount of the contract in industries across Canada. The 28 choppers are expected to cost $1.85 billion.
NH Industries is still offering up a modified version of the NH90, the MH90, to the Canadian Forces. That chopper is being promoted by Lockheed Martin Canada, the company that will build the electronic component with Thales Systems.
Sikorsky and Agusta-Westland are also in the running for the contract.
The Liberal government has shunned the tradition of buying the best valued product, deciding instead to buy the cheapest helicopter to meet the military's basic requirements.
Agusta-Westland, the consortium offering up the Cormorant, had accused the government of dumbing down the specs to favour Eurocopter.