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Europe

Germany walks away from Lockheed, Boeing cargo helicopter offers

2020-09-29

[Defense News] COLOGNE, Germany — The German defense ministry wants to start fresh on a new heavy transport helicopter after finding that offers from Boeing and Lockheed for the Chinook and the King Stallion, respectively, were too expensive, officials announced today.
"too expensive" or a temper tantrum at Trump's push to de-emphasize American bases in Germany?
The surprise decision halts an acquisition race that was scheduled to a see a contract awarded in 2021. The two companies had delivered their initial proposals for the program, aimed at replacing Germany’s aging CH-53G helicopters, in January 2020. A request for a second proposal had been expected by the end of this year.

The move comes as the budget implications of the coronavirus crisis are starting to materialize despite leaders' pledges to keep military spending high. Given that context, other programs are also expected to be on shaky ground, according to sources in Berlin.

Posted by:Besoeker

#10 Like the Spanish trams/street cars without heat that ended up in the Baltics. Three cheers to the scamster politician to pulled that one off.

Posted by: Clem 2020-09-29 18:53

#9 The Germans have been getting a reputation of engineering equipment (from diesel generators to combat rifles and helicopters) that is excellent in the cool temperate German climate. Unfortunately this specialization makes them react poorly to extreme other climates.... like Afghanistan, for example. So let's see if they can design a helicopter that they can export to enough foreign customers to make it affordable, hmmm?

Posted by: magpie 2020-09-29 18:45

#8 Chinooks are cheap, especially for the capability. King Stallions are very expensive as of today but can lift 35,000 lbs. The Germans were, at one time, looking for something that can lift 20,000 kg (45,000 lb). The only thing that can do that is the Russian Mi-26.

Posted by: Uloter Ebbomolet9368 2020-09-29 13:04

#7 Old UNSCOM Iraq foto from the 1990's, just in case a visual was needed for #3-4.

* BTW, it wasn't all German.

Posted by: Besoeker 2020-09-29 12:52

#6 Considering she was East German ..

Posted by: 3dc 2020-09-29 12:51

#5 Did Xi say "no"?

Posted by: charger 2020-09-29 12:09

#4 What does Germany have worth transporting these days, and where?

Dual use stuff for nuclear and biological warfare facilities in Iran...

Posted by: M. Murcek 2020-09-29 11:49

#3 What does Germany have worth transporting these days, and where?

Posted by: AlanC 2020-09-29 11:00

#2 With Merkel, maybe they'll buy Russian ones.

Posted by: Glenmore 2020-09-29 10:05

#1 Both are really good and proven heavy lift helicopters. I doubt the Germans can build something like that for less. Wish them the best of luck though! Be interesting to see their design.

Posted by: DarthVader 2020-09-29 09:57

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