Eight U.K. Chinooks on Tarmac While War Rages

According to the U.K.’s National Audit Office, the Ministry of Defence mishandled the purchase of eight Chinook helicopters from Boeing and took delivery even though the avionics software was insufficient. The NAO estimates that the necessary refit, which should be completed in 2009 and 2010 and underwent a 30-month negotiation by the Ministry, will cost the country about £422 million ($829 million). More importantly, the error kept the Chinooks from flying in Afghanistan where NATO forces consistently cite lack of helicopters as one of the factors hindering their fight against the Taliban. The Chinook is a two-rotor heavy-lift helicopter that first entered service for the U.S. in 1965. For related news