Army Spends Billions on Helicopters That Overheat

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — The Army is spending $2.6 billion on hundreds of European-designed helicopters for homeland security and disaster relief that turn out to have a crucial flaw: They aren't safe to fly on hot days, according to an internal report obtained by The Associated Press.

While the Army scrambles to fix the problem — adding millions to the taxpayer cost — at least one high-ranking lawmaker is calling for the whole deal to be scrapped.

During flight tests in Southern California in mild, 80-degree weather, cockpit temperatures in the UH-72A Lakota soared above 104, the point at which the Army says the communication, navigation and flight control systems can overheat and shut down.

No cockpit equipment failed during the nearly 23 hours of testing, according to the Pentagon report, prepared in July. But the report concluded that the aircraft "is not effective for use in hot environments."

The Army told the AP that to fix the cockpit overheating problem, it will take the highly unusual step of adding air conditioners to many of the 322 helicopters ordered.

The retrofitting will cost at least $10 million and will come out of the Army's budget, according to the Army.

The Army has received 12 of the Lakotas so far from the American Eurocopter Corp., a North American division of Germany's European Aeronautic Defence and Space Co., or EADS. Testing on the first six by an independent arm of the Pentagon revealed the problems. The rest of the choppers are scheduled for delivery to the active-duty Army and the National Guard over the next eight years."

Back during Desert Shield and Storm, Germany had offered to send support vehicles as their contribution to the multi-national force.

Problem was we couldn't use any of their cars, jeeps, trucks, or aircraft because they hadn't been designed to work in so sandy an environment. Like the French and their leaky aircraft carriers, the Germans said well what the hey, as long as you replace what breaks why not keep them. Great way to get us to refit their logistical supply line. Send us crap, watch it disintegrate, then ask Uncle Sugar for better stuff to replace it.

We said thanks, but no thanks, and they began scavenging the country for tents and cots and canteens instead.

The country that once led the world in over-engineering has descended into under-engineering as a matter of course, and please now, no mention of their cars. The public will buy anything, the military needs things that work.