Farnborough 2008 Show News - July 16, 2008 - (Page 50)

FA R N B O R O U G H 2 0 0 8 F-16 Continues to Compete for Export Orders but if a customer came to us with a Although the design is more than request to upgrade a fleet of Block 50s, 30 years old and is not being produced we would be well-prepared to do that.” for the U.S. armed services as it was Lockheed Martin also does not see in years past, Lockheed Martin’s F-16 any conflicts arising from the fact that continues to be a major player in the in the upcoming Brazil fighter tender, export fighter market. Recently signed the F-16 will be competing in the same tenders and contracts illustrate just list of aircraft against the F-35 Joint how much life there is still left in the Strike Fighter—pitting two LM aircraft program, as well as how new, emergagainst each other in the same contest. ing technologies can be employed to “Leaving the issue of whether the counkeep the aircraft current with its try is Brazil aside—it could be any younger contemporaries. country anywhere—–the two airplanes Currently, the F-16 is competing Lockheed’s F-16 is really two airplanes: Block 50 and Block 60 F-16E/F. for a large sale in India—the M-MRCA pro- buys an ‘off-the-shelf’ standard package. Almost complement each other in several ways, and it gram—and is about to enter into competitions every customer asks for a unique configuration, is possible to have both involved in a tender with in Bulgaria, Croatia and Brazil. Brazil has already so it is inaccurate to draw some sort of a line very positive benefits.” “In general, the F-16 has a lot of life left in issued a Request for Information (RfI) on their between the two and look upon them as mutuit, both in terms of new production and in FX-BR tender, and the Request for Proposals ally exclusive.” One of the areas where the two types now upgrading older models. Ultimately, F-16s are (RfP) is expected within the next few months. Both Romania and Morocco have signed for the overlap is the area of radar technology and going to have to operate in a fifth-generation purchase of F-16C/D Block 50/52 aircraft, with advanced avionics systems. The Block 60 was the fighter world. Even though it is a fourth-genBucharest opting for a mix of 24 new Block 50s first F-16 to be fitted with an AESA, but through eration aircraft, we think that it is still one of the plus a batch of 24 used aircraft from U.S. Air the new Northrop Grumman SABR and best choices out there for a customer that wants Raytheon RACR AESA retrofit models, the fifth-gen capability. By virtue of the F-22 and Force inventory. L o c k h e e d M a r t i n v i c e p r e s i d e n t a n d Block 50 can now also be equipped with this new- F-35, LM is the best bet to manage this type of technology infusion—taking technology develspokesman Bill McHenry explained to Show News age technology. McHenry stated that LM is “in dialogue with oped for those programs and then dialing it back that “the F-16 now essentially exists as two product lines: the Block 50 and [F-16E/F] Block 60 both Raytheon and NG” on where and in what into the F-16—for the years to come. Put very series. When we compete with exporters such as numbers the possibilities exist to upgrade exist- simply, the F-16 is a very complementary fighter a Brazil or an India, we offer up both options to ing aircraft or offer up a new AESA-equipped to put a country on the path to a fifth-generathe prospective buyer, but remember that no one Block 50. “We can all speculate who and where, tion fighter.” —Reuben F. Johnson Hardide Coatings Enters Test Program with Airbus Having first shown its carbide-based coating at Farnborough two years the surface of the components, producing a smooth layer of binder-free ago, Hardide Coatings Limited (Hall 4/Stand E20) has entered into a threetungsten carbide. All parts, including internal surfaces, can be coated. year coatings approval test program with Airbus and has confidence in Currently employed in the oil and gas exploration, power, chemical and tests being performed at seven further aerospace manufacturers. food manufacturing industries, Hardide coating gained important aeroReplacing traditional chrome and HVOF protection on internal space credibility in 2006 when BAE Systems selected it for surfaces, the precision coating provides resistance against components in the precision locking system of the overhead abrasion, erosion and corrosion on components made canopy of the Eurofighter Typhoon. from ferrous and nickel-based alloys. Independent “We are delighted to now be in a three-year test proASTM G65 testing has shown that Hardide wears gram with Airbus, and are undergoing confidence testing out 40 times slower than abrasion-resistant with other leading players,” said Neill Ricketts, manAR-500, 12 times slower than hard aging director of Hardide Coatings Limited. “The chrome, and four times slower than therunique wear properties of Hardide and the premal spray tungsten carbide. cise nature of the coating process make it The Hardide coating process is perideal for aerospace applications such as formed in a Chemical Vapor Deposition airframe, landing gear, positive locking furnace and applied to components which systems, engine components and actuaare heated at up to 500 degrees Celsius. tor-related products. It is also a cleaner Then a controlled mixture of gases is process with less environmental impact pumped into the furnace, and a chemical than other coating technologies.” —Paul Jackson reaction takes place which crystallizes on Hardide broke into aerospace via a BAE contract for Eurofighter. 50 July 16, 2008 www.aviationweek.com/shownews http://www.aviationweek.com/shownews

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Farnborough 2008 Show News - July 16, 2008

Bombardier, Shenyang $5 Billion for Composites 787 and Seven V-22s for Export Sale? Saving Fuel at SFO Raytheon Roars Into UAVs Bell Eyes ARH-70A Costs All According to Plan We Fly the PC-12NG Russia’s T-50 PAK-FA Optimistic in Israel ICAO Sim Classifications Pratt to Power New Drone Russian Conglomerate

Farnborough 2008 Show News - July 16, 2008

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