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Aviation History
2001
2001 - 2356.PDF
DEFENCE PROCUREMENT ANDREW DOYLE / PARIS Singapore to streamline air force Fewer types in service and planned fighter and helicopter acquisitions couid help rationalise armed forces UK tanker b ds conso date further Singapore aims to phase out its A-4s by the end of the decade replacement of UH-1H transport helicopters. "Like most air forces in the world we are aiming to reduce the number of types in our fleet," he says. An RFI detailing Singapore's heli copter requirements was released to industry in late April Flight International, 15-21 May). Mean while, Tan says Singapore "would certainly be interested in looking at" the Northrop Grumman Global Hawk unmanned air vehicle (UAV) though it continues to study the development of an indigenous UAV known as the Lalee. "We definitely feel [the Lalee] has a role," says Tan, though there are "a number of technical difficul ties still to be resolved." )id consolidat further Singapore aims to peg back the number of aircraft types operated by its armed forces as part of plans to move forward with the replacement of its ageing McDonnell Douglas A-4 Skyhawk fighters and Bell UH-1H transport helicopters. Defence minister Tony Tan says planning calls for the Republic of Singapore Air Force to be equipped with a "maximum" of three fighter types, but this could be reduced to two if the air force's Northrop Grumman F-5s are eventually replaced as well. Tan says a formal request for information (RFI) will be issued to potential bidders for the A-4 replacement contract by the end of the year. A request for proposals will be issued to a shortlist of candidates "12-18 months" later, ahead of a final selection in 2004. Smiths Aerospace has success fully recorded for the first time data from the Lockheed Martin/Boeing F-22 Raptor head-up and multifunction dis plays using the company's solid-state Data Transfer Equipment with Mass Memory and Video Recorder. The system allows play back of flight data at debriefing stations. DUTCH JSF MOU Pratt & Whitney and six Dutch companies have signed a memorandum of understanding to support work on the JSF 119 Joint Strike Fighter engine. The Dutch companies are Eldim, Fokker Elmo, Hamilton Sundstrand Customer Support Centre-Maastricht, Nederlands Centrum voor Laser Research, Urenco Nederland and Stork. The deal has been completed in anticipation of the Dutch Government joining the JSF programme. "The views of the air force will be very important in helping the Ministry of Defence decide which aircraft to select," says Tan. The new fighter is due to become opera tional by the end of the decade when the A-4s will be phased out, and the initial buy is expected to be 20-24 aircraft. The Boeing F-15 and F/A-18E/F, Dassault Aviation Rafale, Euro- fighter Typhoon, and Lockheed Martin F-16 block 60 are among the aircraft being evaluated, says Tan. A key aspect of the battle will revolve around Singapore's need to base some of its aircraft and per sonnel off-shore due to limited space and training requirements. Tan confirms the defence min istry is also reviewing whether to widen its requirement for a new maritime helicopter to equip La Fayette-class frigates to encom pass additional roles such as the TANKERS The UK's Future Strategic Tanker Aircraft contest has seen further consolidation with the teaming of Boeing-BAE Systems and Strategic Support Management (SSM). The battle is now a straight fight between this new entity and the AirTanker consortium, formed this year by combining Rolls-Royce's AirReach bid with the Eurotanker grouping of Cobham subsidiary FR Aviation, Brown & Root, EADS Airbus and Thales Defence. Industry sources say SSM, a DISPUTE Lockheed Martin has dropped its complaint to the US General Accounting Office (GAO) over the US Air Force's selection of Ray theon to produce $64 million worth of Paveway II laser-guided bomb kits for the US Navy. In March, Lockheed Martin asked the GAO to investigate the Serco and Spectrum Capital joint venture, has joined the Boeing-BAE team, which is offering a service using ex-British Airways Boeing 767s. AirTanker is offering new Airbus A330s. At stake is a 30-year, £13 billion ($18 billion) private finance initia tive deal to supply a tanker service to the Royal Air Force. The need, say industry sources, is for 10 aerial tankers with the ability to increase to 22-25 aircraft. Excess capacity will be made available to commer- contract award to Raytheon. The company believed that it had demonstrated it could produce Paveway kits in competition with Raytheon (Flight International, 27 March-2 April). According to the USAF, Lockheed Martin's complaint alleged that the USAF improperly cial or military third parties. Bids are to be handed over on 3 July, with a decision on whether to proceed with the programme expected in mid-2002. A contract is to be placed in 2003 with a 2007/9 in-service date, although this may be brought forward as the RAF's elderly BAC VClOs are already being withdrawn from service. The protagonists argue that used aircraft are cheaper to operate, while new aircraft are better suited to the 30-year FSTA lifespan. failed to qualify the defence firm to bid for the work. The USAF maintains, however, that Lock heed Martin did not complete all bidding requirements. The USAF says Lockheed Martin will "continue its efforts to become qualified to produce Paveway II LGB kits". Lockheed Martin set to abandon Paveway protest 40 26 JUNE - 2 JULY 2001 FLIGHT INTERNATIONAL www.flightinternational.conn
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