Canadian Sea King replacement

From 1983 onwards, a replacement was sought for the aging Canadian Armed Forces Sikorsky CH-124 Sea King helicopters.

[2] In 1985, the New Shipboard Aircraft Project (NSA) was started by the Progressive Conservative government led by Brian Mulroney to replace the Sea King.

Economic benefits were a lower price per aircraft and for spares, as well as easing maintenance and training; the total cost rose to CA$5.8 billion for 50 helicopters (comprising 35 ASW Sea King replacements and 15 SAR types, dubbed CH-148 Petrel and CH-149 Chimo respectively).

In 1993, the Progressive Conservatives' new leader, Kim Campbell, announced a cut to 28 Petrels and 15 Chimos, lowering the cost to CA$4.4 billion.

[7] Tory credibility lowered when Campbell said that ASW capabilities may be vital if submarines ran the blockade of Haiti, as the notion was viewed as absurd.

On 27 February 2003, a Sea King crashed back onto HMCS Iroquois's flight deck shortly after takeoff; images were widely circulated.

[11] That same year, the fleet was temporarily grounded (except for essential operations) after two Sea Kings coincidentally lost power within days of each other.

The two-part approach was attacked by all sides; opponents stated that separating major components only raised total costs.

[14] Despite several high-profile Sea King losses, little progress occurred until Chrétien retired in December 2003; the new prime minister, Paul Martin, made replacing the CH-124 a top priority, exempting it from a spending freeze on all major DND projects.

[14] In July 2004, it was announced that 28 Sikorsky CH-148 Cyclones, carrying a General Dynamics mission package, would replace the Sea King; the first CH-148 was scheduled for delivery in 2008.