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http://www.defenceweb.co.za/index.php?o ... Itemid=108 The A109 LUH was purchased to replace the elderly Eurocopter SA-316/SA-319 Alouette III helicopters, which had been in service since 1962 in the light utility role.
Delivery of the 30 A109 helicopters purchased from the Anglo-Italian AgustaWestland helicopter company under the R2.4 billion Project Flange commenced on October 19, 2005.
Deliveries were beset with delays and difficulties and an option for a further ten was not exercised.
Although the first five A109 aircraft were manufactured in Italy, the balance of the 25 helicopters was assembled by Denel Saab Aerostructures.
By 2008 deliveries were four years late, leading to the imposition of a R90 million penalty, the only one imposed under the “arms deal”.
It has been reported that offsets were tardy and the platform has failed to live up to expectations – one criticism is that it is underpowered.