UK helo revamp could see major Chinook buy

Government ministers are set to announce later this month a radical recasting of the UK's helicopter procurement, organisation and basing plans in a new rotary-wing concept called 'Vision 2020', which could see the end of development and production of the AgustaWestland EH101 Merlin in the UK.

The centrepiece of the new plan is the dropping of the GBP2.5 billion (USD4.1 billion) Future Medium Support Helicopter programme, which had been expected to see the launch of a competition to buy 50 new NH90- or Merlin-class helicopters. UK military chiefs now aim to use a portion of this money to buy "up to 30" more Boeing CH-47 Chinook heavy-lift helicopters by the middle of the next decade, to bring the UK Chinook fleet to "around 70" airframes.

Government ministers are reportedly keen to fast-track the Chinook order, expected to be worth some GBP600 million, because of continuing criticism regarding a lack of helicopters in Afghanistan. Near-term funding for the Chinook buy will also come from scrapping a proposed life extension to the Westland Sea King HC.4 helicopter fleet and savings generated from closing bases.

Senior UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) procurement officials on the Investment Approvals Board as well as Treasury officials have all given the plan their backing in the past month to allow the first elements of the complex plan to be unfolded by senior government ministers.

Under 'Vision 2020' a major shake-up in the basing of all the UK's military helicopters will occur and the Royal Air Force's (RAF's) AgustaWestland Merlin HC.3/3A transport helicopters would be transferred to the Royal Navy.