Public Accounts committee  Thank you, Mr. Harris. I just want to address the issue of cost. You made the comment that the costs have doubled. When the Department of National Defence went to Treasury Board in June 2003, they estimated the cost to be $3.116 billion, and at effective project approval in Nov

Public Accounts committee  Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Thank you, Mr. Harris. The government of the day asked the bidders to commit to 48 months, which obviously was a very aggressive delivery schedule. The risk associated with that schedule at the time—and I was obviously not there at the time—was felt to

Public Accounts committee  Thank you, Mr. Chairman. The Mi-17 helicopters you are referring to are not purchased; they are leased, uniquely for the ongoing mission in Afghanistan. They respond to a specific operational need identified by the commanders on the ground that could not be met by our large tran

Public Accounts committee  I didn't say it was going to take us 12 years.

Public Accounts committee  The Chinooks purchased for Afghanistan will be disposed of on completion of the mission next fall.

Public Accounts committee  Yes, absolutely.

Public Accounts committee  No.

Public Accounts committee  No. We purchased those Chinooks from the American army. We may sell them to another country.

Public Accounts committee  We don't have a buyer yet, but we will sell the five Chinook Ds that we have remaining.

Public Accounts committee  No, they work well.

Public Accounts committee  We have under contract 15 improved Chinook Fs, which we will take delivery of in 2013, and that will be the long-term core of our Chinook fleet. We have no requirement for any Chinooks above the 15.

Public Accounts committee  Yes.

Public Accounts committee  Mr. Chair, the two helicopters are different. The Chinook helicopter is an in-production F-model helicopter. It is proven and in production, and we added self-defence equipment to it for use--

Public Accounts committee  That's the Chinook H-47F. The Cyclone was based on an in-service proven civilian helicopter used in offshore drilling support operations around the world, which we modified by folding the tail and rotors and adding the sensors to meet a military position.

Public Accounts committee  Not exactly as they are currently used. There were mandatory essential upgrades required for them.