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Aviation History
1996
1996 - 0058.PDF
)LJM£2 Thomson-CSF is poised to take Elettronica stake T HOMSON-CSF HAS ag reed "in principle" to buy an initial 25% stake in Italian defence- electronics company Elettronica. A final agreement is due in the next few weeks. The French company says that the investment will take the form of a capital increase in Elettronica, which, under the agreement, would increase to 32% within a year and 49% in three years. Elettronica's core business is in electronic-warfare systems, and the company is involved in programmes for the Eurocopter NH90 transport helicopter, the Eurofighter EF2000 and the Horizon frigate. The agreement brings together the activities of Thomson-CSF Radars & Counter Measures and the communications and electron ic-warfare activities of Thomson- CSF Communications. The combined total annual revenue of the two enterprises will be more than Fr2.4 billion ($480 million). Thomson-CSF is now pursu ing a major programme of "Europeanisation", tying up a series of co-operation deals in 1995, including Spain's Indra (in defence electronics) and France's BM Industries (optronics). • NEWS IN BRIEF • COMANCHE FLIES The Boeing Helicopter/- Sikorsky Aircraft RAH-66 Comanche next-generation attack helicopter was flown for the first time on 4 January, when it took off from Sikorsky's Development Flight Test Center in West Palm Beach, Florida. The first RAH-66 was rolled out in May, 1995. A second pro totype, fitted with a recon naissance mission-equipment package, is to begin test fly ing in September 1998. The Pentagon has approved pro duction of the two prototypes and six "early operational- capability" aircraft for trials. Boeing beats rivals to Malaysian deal ANDREW CHUTER/LONDON BOEING HAS made a clean sweep of a $4 billion Malaysian Airlines (MAS) order for long- range, high-capacity, aircraft, beat ing Airbus and McDonnell Douglas (MDC) to a deal which could eventually cover 65 aircraft. MAS was expected to announce on 9 January an order with the US airframe company for ten Pratt & Whitney-powered 747-400s (plus three options) and 15 777s (plus two options). On top of that, the airline has 30 floating options on either type, which it can convert at a later date. The first 747s and 777s are expected to arrive at MAS in early 1997, with further deliveries of air craft on firm order running through to 1999 as the South-East Asian airline indulges in a massive expansion and renewal programme. Boeing was always expected to win the high-capacity element of the order with its 747, but to win the medium-capacity section of the Malaysian choice of 747 came as no surprise deal with its 777, the US manufac turer had to fight off fierce compe tition from Airbus, offering the A340, and MDC, with its MD-11. The decision is another setback for Airbus, which has faced an almost unbroken string of Boeing successes recendy in the widebody, long-range market — the Euro pean consortium's only major recent win was a Philippine Airlines order in December 1995 (Flight International, 3-9 January). The Malaysian decision also marks a new high point for engine- builder Rolls-Royce, which has secured an order for the Trent 800 to power the 777s. On firm orders and spares alone, the deal is worth more than $400 million to R-R. The company declines to comment. The MAS decision, immediately following a Singapore Airlines order for 34 Trent 800-powered 777s, projects the UK company from an also-ran in the big-twins battle to second place behind P&W, with General Electric trail ing in third. With South African Airways and Singapore Aircraft Leasing still to choose engines for a further ten aircraft, the UK compa ny could make further progress in the next few weeks. • Demand triggers Arianespace order for Ariane 5 launchers ARIANESPACE has announ ced plans to order 50 Ariane 5 new-generation satellite launchers, to meet an expected 30% increase in demand for telecommunications satellite launches by the year 2000. Arianespace chairman and chief executive Charles Bigot says that the European consortium is deter mined to preserve its market share in the face of aggressive interna tional competition, principally from the USA, but also from Rus sian and Chinese rivals. Ariane space already controls more than 50% of the world market. According to Bigot, Arianespace will also announce the creation of its own finance company, offering potential customers the option of a "one-stop shop", with fixed-rate finance competitive with those from traditional sources. A decision on setting up the finance arm is due to be taken by Arianespace's board on 25 January. Arianespace is also re-activating its S3R insurance subsidiary, found ed ten years ago, to help satellite operators secure better rates on the space-insurance market. Ground tests for the Ariane 5 are due to be completed by March, in preparation for a maiden flight on 7 May. The first commercial launchis scheduled for December 1996. • Israel thinks about Tomahawk purchase THE ISRAELI DEFENCE forces are considering a pur chase of the Hughes Tomahawk BGM-109 cruise missile. Israeli prime minister Shimon Peres is expected to discuss the issue when he meets US defence secretary William Perry in Israel on 8 January. The proposal is part of negotia tions between Israel and the USA in the renewed effort to reach an Israeli-Syrian peace agreement. The USA recently placed cruise missiles on the export list for close allies with its deal to sell the weapon for launch from Royal Navy sub marines. Hughes is also offering an air-launched version, the AirHawk, to the Royal Air Force. • FLIGHT INTERNATIONAL 10 - 16 January 1996
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