Official statement:
German wrote:"Hiermit informieren wir Sie darüber, dass das Vergabeverfahren im Projekt „Schwerer Transporthubschrauber (STH)“ aufgehoben wurde.
Im Rahmen der laufenden Vergabe wurde erkannt, dass eine Realisierung des Projektes im geplanten Finanzrahmen bei gleichzeitiger Erfüllung aller Forderungen unwahrscheinlich ist. Die Vergabestelle des Bundesamtes für Ausrüstung, Informationstechnik und Nutzung der Bundeswehr hat die vorliegenden Angebote als unwirtschaftlich bewertet und aus diesem Grund das Vergabeverfahren aufgehoben.
Die nunmehr erforderliche Neubetrachtung des Projektes wird Auswirkungen auf den bisherigen Zeitplan haben. Ein Vertragsschluss in 2021 unter den derzeitigen Rahmenbedingungen kann somit nicht erreicht werden.
Ziel bleibt weiterhin, das bisherige Muster CH-53G zeitgerecht zu ersetzen."
English wrote:We herewith inform you that the tender for the project "Heavy Transport Helicopter (STH)" has been cancelled.
In the course of the current awarding procedure it was recognized that it is unlikely that the project can be realized within the planned financial framework while meeting all requirements. The awarding authority of the Federal Office for Equipment, Information Technology and Utilization of the German Armed Forces has assessed the present offers as uneconomical and for this reason has cancelled the awarding procedure.
The now necessary reconsideration of the project will have an impact on the previous schedule. Due to this, signing a contract in 2021 under the current framework conditions cannot be achieved.
The goal remains to replace the previous CH-53G model in a timely manner.
And:
German wrote:Die Realisierung des Projekts STH hat für die Bundeswehr nach wie vor eine sehr hohe Priorität, da sowohl die Fähigkeit zum Lufttransport für die Mobilität und Reaktionsfähigkeit von Streitkräften wie auch für Hilfs- und Unterstützungsleistungen von herausragender Bedeutung ist. (…)
Ziel bleibt weiterhin, einen bruchfreien Fähigkeitsübergang sicherzustellen. Über das weitere Vorgehen wird das BMVg bis Ende 2020 entscheiden.
English wrote:The implementation of the STH project remains a very high priority for the Bundeswehr, since air transport capability is of outstanding importance for the mobility and responsiveness of armed forces as well as for relief and support services. (…)
The goal remains to ensure a seamless transition of capabilities. The Federal Defence Ministry (BMVg) will decide on the further procedure by the end of 2020.
Brief reminder: The original tender was for 45 to 60 helicopters for 5.6 billion €.
This article (
https://augengeradeaus.net/2020/09/zu-t ... eufassung/) suggests that the german government expected significant IP transfer, and that Boeing / Sikorsky put a large price tag on that IP.
Translated wrote:The Budget Committee calls on the German government to work towards this in the contract negotiations for the "Heavy Transport Helicopter" project,
...
2. that Germany shall obtain the intellectual property rights to the helicopter to such an extent that operation, maintenance, repair, and adaptation and further development are possible independently of the manufacturer of the helicopter, if the manufacturer himself is not willing or able to do so
...
The Budget Committee calls on the Federal Government to inform the Budget Committee of the models offered for operation, maintenance, servicing and adaptation and further development before the call for a "best and final offer" is issued.
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Some people may argue that this (re)opens the door for a new domestic or European development; however, clearly both cost and time are the primary considerations for this tender. A clean sheet will certainly miss both targets. A new tender has the options:
- less transfer of IP or domestic workshare
- fewer (new) capabilities
- less capability overall, thereby opening the tender to smaller competitors (AW101, H-225, NH90)
- fewer helicopters
- unchanged tender, but hope for less expensive offers