Farnborough Show News - July 14, 2008 - (Page 65)

EUROPEAN FIGHTER COMPETITION FA R N B O R O U G H 2 0 0 8 with Buys Pending in a Dozen+ Countries RFI—described to Show News as “more of a questionnaire than a formal document.” April 2009, with a government decision expected in July 2009. Romania Switzerland The Swiss requirement for an F-5E Tiger replacement is one of the hottest programs around, because of the speed at which Armasuisse (the national procurement agency) will run the competition and make its selection. Three bidders submitted their RFP responses on July 2 and, uniquely, there is no U.S. contender. The Eurofighter Typhoon, Dassault Rafale and Saab Gripen are each in the running. Earlier this year Boeing withdrew the Super Hornet on the grounds that it exceeded the Swiss requirements by too wide a margin. Boeing has since made the point that Armasuisse was not prepared to pay the extra costs incurred by a large AESA-equipped aircraft, in a program aimed squarely at finding an affordable F-5E replacement. Switzerland will also impose noise and environmental constraints that will tax the contenders. A specific number of aircraft has not been requested. Instead the Swiss have defined several operational scenarios and asked potential suppliers to meet them. This novel approach to fighter acquisition is expected to lead to an order of around 30 aircraft. Later this summer a series of flight evaluations will be held incountry. Bidders will submit their best and final offers (BAFOs) in A decision on new aircraft is fast approaching in Romania. An initial RFI in September 2007 was followed by an SRFI in March 2008. The technical evaluation was restricted to the Saab Gripen and Lockheed Martin F-16 Block 50/52. bidders—a list longer than even India’s mighty fighter program. Contenders include the Dassault Mirage 2000-5, surplus Mirage F1s from a French supplier, Eurofighter Typhoon, Lockheed Martin F-16, surplus F-16s from Israel, MiG-29M (MiG-35) and Saab Gripen. A downselect and RFP is expected later this year to meet an in-service date of 2010. Typhoon, Super Hornet, Rafale, F-16, Gripen, perhaps the Su-30 plus the potential for the JSF to be offered further down the line. The Rest of Europe Bulgaria issued an RFI in August American-made X-35 Joint Strike Fighter Romania’s ultimate requirement is for up to 48 aircraft, in two phases. This would allow for the possibility of a Gripen/Gripen NG or perhaps an F-16/JSF purchase. Romania is understood to be looking at several financing options for its fighter acquisition. A decision is expected by 3Q 2008 but elections could push it into early 2009. Greece The on-again-off-again saga of Greece’s new fighter procurement is now on again with an initial requirement for 30 aircraft. The Eurofighter Typhoon was previously selected but that deal was shelved, with the blame laid on the costs of the Athens Olympics. In May 2008 the Greek Air Force revived its procurement process, and a decision is expected in 2009 to meet a 2011 in-service date. Although Eurofighter enjoys an incumbent position, expect a renewed competition between the Croatia In August 2006 Croatia started its search for 12 new fighters to replace its MiG-21s. RFI responses were submitted in March 2008 by seven 2006 for 16 aircraft to replace its MiG-29s around 2010. A new defense minister is currently reassessing procurement budgets and the fighter requirement is expected to become a priority. In 2009 Belgium is expected to issue an RFI for its F-16 replacement program. As a European Partner Air Force that opted not to join the JSF program, the Belgian approach to new fighter procurement will be watched with interest. In Eastern Europe Slovenia should soon start discussions with NATO on how to fulfill its air defense requirements, and a new fighter purchase is possible. Serbia wants to follow a similar path of closer ties with the EU and NATO, and it too needs new aircraft. Despite its MiG-29 upgrade program Slovakia will need to replace those aircraft by about 2015 and so a new aircraft requirement is expected here around 2012. The Baltic states of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania are examining their future fast jet needs, to perhaps bring new aircraft into service from 2012 to 2015. Finland also has an emerging requirement for an F/A-18C replacement around 2018/2020. —Robert Hewson Saudi Opportunities Stretch Out Before Boeing In the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Boeing is doing a pretty significant amount of aerospace business. The Boeing-controlled Al Salam Aircraft Co. leads the way on the two most important programs in Royal Saudi Air Force (RSAF) history. Final contracts have now been signed on the Tornado Sustainment Programme upgrade, with Al Salam undertaking all the local work on behalf of BAE Systems. Negotiations are also underway to resolve the remaining details of Saudi Arabia’s Eurofighter Typhoon production plan, which Al Salam Aircraft will also complete. Beyond this Boeing is looking at further fighter sales and a new deal on jet trainers. Mark Kronenberg, vp, International Business Development at Boeing IDS tells Show News he anticipates a major order for up to 72 F-15s. “This will play out over the next six months,” says Kronenberg. “The issue is where our production line is at next year. The Saudis came and restarted the F-15 line in 1992 but we’d like to see something nailed down by the end of this year to avoid a break in production.” “We are looking at supplying new-build ‘international’ F-15s like those for Korea or Singapore, with AESA radars. We would expect a radar and avionics upgrade to be applied to the RSAF’s F-15Ss and for its F-15C/Ds to be retired.” “The RSAF also needs about 48 new trainers to replace its Hawks, and we would look to deliver a turn-key solution with Aermacchi M 346s, like we are offering Singapore.” —Robert Hewson www.aviationweek.com/shownews July 14, 2008 65 http://www.aviationweek.com/shownews

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Farnborough Show News - July 14, 2008

Farnborough Show News - July 14, 2008 Contents Thirty More Years CFM Reveals New Engine Boeing Reduces Forecast UAVs’ Quiet Revolution Finmeccanica: U.S. Success A Plethora of AESAs BAE North America Plus L-3 Becomes a Prime Better Late Than Never A Peek Behind the Curtain China’s J-10 Revealed Boeing’s 787 Dreamliner Breaking LM’s Hegemony

Farnborough Show News - July 14, 2008

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