A109 support costs climb
Date: 1 October 2010
Support and other post-acquisition capital costs for the South African Air Force's 29 AgustaWestland A109M light utility helicopters acquired for R2.451 billion as part of the 1999 strategic defence package (SDP) has topped R120.5 million since December 2006. The non-capital operating cost of the nimble Italian rotorcraft is not immediately known.
The latest award to Agusta S.p.A. is R5 673 504 for "on demand support" and was published on the Armscor tender system yesterday as an extension of ELGS/2006/215. The business takes the bill for such support to R49 735 493.34 according to defenceWeb calculation based on data on the Armscor website.
Project Flange - the A109M light utility helicopter acquisition - was the black sheep of the 1999 Strategic Defence Package and has been beset with difficulties and delays: By 2008 deliveries were four years late, leading to the imposition of a R90 million penalty, the only one imposed under the "arms deal" and offsets were tardy, although they are now certified complete. The first delivery was made in October 2005 and the last around mid-2009.
In addition to "on demand product support", the SAAF have also contracted with Agusta for equipment and services worth R1 470 011.16; spares, ground support and test equipment amounting to R48 607 864.08; and, flight control and communications systems upgrades totalling R17 245 868.98. Interim product support amounted to R3 500 000, giving a total amount of R120 559 237.56.
The A109 that replaced the Sud Aviation (later Aerospatiale, Eurocopter) Alouette III was, from the start a controversial choice, selected in favour of the Bell 427 (Canada), and the Franco/German Eurocopter Cougar as well as the Eurocopter EC635. Thirty were ordered with an option for ten more. Tellingly, this was not exercised. Air Force chief Lt Gen Carlo Gagiano has said the SAAF requires the type to take pressure off the Denel M1 Oryx medium utility fleet. The service has long had the need for a platform more capable than the Alouette III but less expensive and more efficient than the Oryx for the bulk of taskings. The A109 was expected to fill that niche.
Gagiano in March 2007 said the rotorcraft was cleared for command-and-control, Casevac, trooping and cargo-slinging duties.
Source: DefenceWeb
