28 November 2011

News Story: (AUS) Delays, mechanical problems put Defence chopper project on concern list

Brendan Nicholson

THE plan to re-equip the army and navy with 46 high-tech European helicopters worth $2.6 billion has been added to Defence's "projects of concern" list because of long delivery delays and mechanical problems.

Announcing the listing of the multi-role helicopter, Defence Minister Stephen Smith and the Minister for Defence Materiel Jason Clare said the project was running two years behind schedule and there was a risk of further delays.

Being added to the list brings a major review of the performance of the company providing the equipment.

The MRH 90 is built by European giant Eurocopter and assembled in Brisbane by its subsidiary Australian Aerospace.

Read the full story at The Australian