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Aviation History
1998
1998 - 1289.PDF
DSrsncm Europe's FLA programme could be heading for limbo for much of 1999 Airbus fights FLA delays DOUGLAS BARRIE/LONDON AIRBUS MILITARY Com pany (AMC) is attempting to pull forward a German-led study on the Antonov An-70's ability to meet European tactical military- transport requirements. This is in an effort to avoid further delays to the European Future Large Aircraft (FLA) programme. The German study timescale conflicts with AMC's proposed submission next January of a response to a request for proposal (RFP) from the interested states (Belgium, France, Italy, Portugal, Spain, Turkey and the UK) on the FLA. The German An-70 study is not scheduled to be completed until mid-1999, opening the possibility of leaving die FLA programme in limbo for much of next year. A UK project source confirms: "AMC wants the two studies pulled together in terms of timescale. It doesn't want to see a delay to the RFP response, and is dying to pull the German study forward." Volker Rune, the German defence minister, is championing the An-70 to meet the FLA re quirement, a move which the source indicates would leave Airbus Industrie reluctant to act as prime contractor for an FLA design based around the An-70. An FLA policy group meeting during the week of the Berlin air show, which starts on 18 May, could see the Airbus position on die An-70 spelled out. In a further twist along the road towards the purchase of new European military transports, the majority of die FLA states are also expected to release an RFP at the end of next month to Boeing and Lockheed Martin, based on a European Staff Requirement. Antonov could also respond direct ly to the RFP. The move is primarily the result of a UK-led initiative to introduce some element of competition into the FLA procurement process. Lockheed Martin's response is like ly to include the C-130J Hercules and its Advanced Mobility Aircraft (AMA) concept. The US giant has already offered Airbus part of the AMA modular airlift project as a collaborative venture. The Boeing C-17 Globemaster III is also likely to be among the offerings. 3 See Feature, PS2. Thais lose deposit on abortive F/A-18 purchase THE ROYAL Thai Air Force (RTAF) will have to forfeit a $74.5 million deposit on eight new Boeing F/A-18C/D Hornet fighters under a buybaqk deal struck with the US Government, after a last ditch effort to sell the fighters to Kuwait proved fruitless. Washington had given Bangkok until 1 May to find a third-party buyer for the four F/A-18Cs and four tandem-seat Ds, or accept its offer to take over responsibility for the fighters. The deadline was dri ven by die need to request supple mentary funding from the IS Congress to acquire the aircraft. The US Congress has now approved supplemental funding to enable the US Marine Corps to buy the eight aircraft originally ordered by Thailand. An addition al $272.5 million will be provided to buy the F/A-18s, which are already in production at Boeing and are to be delivered in 1999. The RTAF had originally agreed to pay $392 million for the F/A- 18s, but had only made one initial payment of $74.5 million when the Thai economy crashed. This downpayment will not now be refunded to Thailand. "We've tried to limit Thailand's liability to$74.5 million," confirms a US official. Under the original contract, die RTAF owed a further $250 million in cancellation penal ties, but had been hoping for its deposit back to fund other aircraft programmes, such as a Northrop F-5E/F upgrade. The RTAF is still hoping to recoup some of its outlay from the sale of long-lead spares already purchased. "There is some latitude, but the amount has still to be determined," adds the US source. Thailand had been pinning last- minutes hopes on getting all of its money back by selling the aircraft to Kuwait, after the country's earli er overtures to Chile and the Philippines had failed. J NEWS IN BRIEF • CHILE DELAY The Chilean air force has delayed selection of a new fighter until the end of May. The four bidders - Boeing (F/A-18C/D), Dassault (Mirage 2000-5), Lockheed Martin (F-16C/D) and Saab (Gripen) - have been given until 22 May to submit final offers for the supply of an expected 16 aircraft. • F-22 GETS JHMCS Vision Systems International (VSI) has received a Lock heed Martin contract to adapt its Joint Helmet- Mounted Cuing System (JHMCS) to the F-22. VSI, a joint venture between Elbit's EFW unit and Kaiser Aero space & Electronics, is devel oping the JHMCS for the F-15, F-16andF-18, with a first flight late this year and first deliveries in 2000. • PILOT CHOICE The US Air Force has modi fied its pilot training to allow students to select between bomber and tanker/transport tracks. The bomber "mini- track" includes low-level fly ing training in the Northrop T-38 following completion of the standard multi-engine course in the Raytheon T-1 A. • EUROPEAN MPA Alenia and Daimler-Benz Aerospace (Dasa) have signed a memorandum of understanding to develop a "competitive solution" for mission equipment package components for the German/Italian Maritime Patrol Aircraft (MPA) that will replace the Breguet Atlantique 1150. Alenia's avionic systems and equip ment division and Dasa's defence and civil systems unit plan to co-operate on the tac tical command system, trans portable air operation centre and maritime air operation centre for the aircraft. A deci sion on the MPA airframe will be taken in 1999. FLIGHT INTERNATIONAL 13 - 19 May 1998 23
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