Aircraft

Lockheed Martin’s hopes of quickly reselecting an aircraft for the US Army’s Aerial Common Sensor (ACS) programme appear to be fading. After saying in early August that the matter would be settled “soon”, Lockheed cannot now say when it will select a replacement for the Embraer ERJ-145. The company, meanwhile, disputes a report that it had been uncertain about the ERJ-145’s suitability for ACS before it won the contract.

Lockheed stands by a statement that said detailed design studies this year showed the ERJ-145 fell short of the power and weight requirements of the ACS programme’s sensor payload. Lockheed admits writing to other aircraft suppliers in May 2004 probing for alternatives, but says that was not related to the sensor requirements issue.

STEPHEN TRIMBLE/WASHINGTON DC