Critics wonder what the air force is giving up with new Cyclone contract

OTTAWA – The New Democratic opposition and a defence expert say they want to know what sort of compromises the air force might have to swallow in order to accept its long-delayed maritime helicopters.

A series of government and defence sources revealed this week that public works had struck an agreement with the U.S. manufacturer of the CH-148 Cyclone helicopters to amend the purchase contract.

The renegotiated deal — the third since the helicopters were ordered in 2004 — paves the way for the retirement of the air force’s 50-year-old Sea King fleet.

As part of the internal exercise leading up to the new deal, the air force was asked to revisit its list of expected Cyclone capabilities and told to spell out clearly what aspects they “required” as opposed to what they “desired” in the new helicopter.

NDP defence critic Jack Harris says that’s troubling and he wonders what expectations the air force was forced to lower.