This Globe and Mail article provided a good overview of the three helicopters involved (sea king, EH101 and the H92).
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/ArticleNews/TPStory/LAC/20040724/HELI24/TPNational/TopStories
Sea King
Maximum load:...2,245 kg
Number of engines:...2
Passenger capacity:...40
Capabilities: The Sea King is capable of landing on small decks of destroyers and providing surveillance to ships at sea. It was often used for search-and- rescue missions
Strengths: The Sea King's strength was its longevity, ability to work on
small ship decks and the expertise developed by its maintenance crews to keep it flying
Weaknesses: The Sea Kings were too old and required long hours of maintenance to stay in the air. They were also becoming an embarrassment on international missions.
EH-101
Maximum load:...6,072 kg
Number of engines:...3
Passenger capacity:...40
Capabilities: The EH-101 is a heavier helicopter than the Cyclone and has proven itself as a search-and-rescue and surveillance aircraft. Both helicopters bost state of the art submarine detection devices and can be fully equipped for search- and-rescue missions and maritime patrols. Strengths: The EH-101 is a proven helicopter with an established track record of performing in harsh marine environments. Weaknesses: The selection of the EH-101 would have created political embarrassment for the Liberals, who had rejected it in 1993 as too expensive. The EH -101 is larger and more powerful, but costs more to buy and operate.
Thumbnail history: The EH-101 was developed by Agusta of Italy and GKN Westland Helicopter of Britain in the early 1980s in a collaborative effort involving companies across western Europe to produce a powerful military machine with advance weaponry and self-defence systems. That chopper was rejected by the Liberals in Canada in 1993, but in 1998 Canada purchased 15 EH-101 Cormorants for search and rescue missions. EH boasts the Cormorant is the most capable long-range search and rescue helicopter in the world.
H-92
Maximum load:...5,216 kg
Number of engines:...2
Passenger capacity:...22
Cost: The bill for the 28 Sikorsky helicopters and a 20-year service and training program is $5-billion. Public Works Minister Scott Brison and Mr. Graham both insist the Cyclones were cheaper than the EH-101s, but won't say what the difference was between the two bids.
Strengths: The Cyclone, which is still in the development stage, provides more work for the Canadian aerospace industries and allows the military to provide input on what the new aircraft will look like.
Weaknesses: Defence analysts say
t is also smaller, exists only in prototypes and has yet to prove itself in the air.
Thumbnail history: The S-92 and H-92 aircraft were created by Sikorsky in the late 1990s as the next generation of medium-range helicopters to follow the Sea King. The company boasts they have incorporated the ruggedness of the famous Black Hawk helicopters in an affordable medium-range model chopper with economical performance.