Heliport
15th Dec 2003, 13:14
Reuters report Australia defence cleared of rigging helicopter deal
CANBERRA - Australia’s defence force was cleared on Monday of any attempt to rig a A$5 billion, or $3.7 billion, helicopter contract in favour of US company United Technologies Corp’s UTX.N Sikorsky aircraft.
The government called in the inspector general of defence to investigate after a senior scientist complained of pressure to skew the bid assessment to favour Sikorsky’s Black Hawk.
But a spokeswoman for Defence Minister Robert Hill said the inspector general had reported back to the head, or secretary, of the Defence Department with no adverse finding.
“The Secretary has accepted the findings that there was no evidence of improper conduct, bias or unethical behaviour during the evaluation process,” the spokeswoman said.
The investigation was related to a project known as Air 9000, potentially worth about A$5 billion over 30 years, that aims to purchase further troop lift helicopters and rationalise the Australian Defence Force’s helicopter fleet.
Hill’s spokeswoman said the proposals were still being evaluated with no decision yet and no timetable set. No other details were released.
The global helicopter industry is largely a five-way race in which Sikorsky remains a top military supplier with its main product, Black Hawk. Other players include Eurocopter, a unit of EADS EAD.PA, and Textron Inc’s TXT.N Bell Helicopter.
CANBERRA - Australia’s defence force was cleared on Monday of any attempt to rig a A$5 billion, or $3.7 billion, helicopter contract in favour of US company United Technologies Corp’s UTX.N Sikorsky aircraft.
The government called in the inspector general of defence to investigate after a senior scientist complained of pressure to skew the bid assessment to favour Sikorsky’s Black Hawk.
But a spokeswoman for Defence Minister Robert Hill said the inspector general had reported back to the head, or secretary, of the Defence Department with no adverse finding.
“The Secretary has accepted the findings that there was no evidence of improper conduct, bias or unethical behaviour during the evaluation process,” the spokeswoman said.
The investigation was related to a project known as Air 9000, potentially worth about A$5 billion over 30 years, that aims to purchase further troop lift helicopters and rationalise the Australian Defence Force’s helicopter fleet.
Hill’s spokeswoman said the proposals were still being evaluated with no decision yet and no timetable set. No other details were released.
The global helicopter industry is largely a five-way race in which Sikorsky remains a top military supplier with its main product, Black Hawk. Other players include Eurocopter, a unit of EADS EAD.PA, and Textron Inc’s TXT.N Bell Helicopter.