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Aviation History
2002
2002 - 1120.PDF
SHOW REPORT FIDAE 2002 PAUL LEWIS FIDAE 2002 - held in Santiago, Chile, on 1-7 April - highlighted plentiful potential in civil and military markets throughout Central and South America. In military markets, European, Israeli and US compa nies are recognising that still-recovering economies are more likely to be able to afford upgrade programmes than new equipment. In the commercial market the impending competition at Aeromexico is seen as a key battleground for the future success of Airbus and Boeing in the region. Led largely by Brazil, it seems the long-held promise of the region finally appears to be entering a period of fruition. ADVANCED TRAINER LMAASA to revamp Pampa avionics Upgrade of AT-63 advanced trainer seens as crucial to securing export contracts in Latin America and Asia Lockheed Martin Aircraft Argentina (LMAASA) is to develop a radar- equipped upgrade of the AT-63 Pampa advanced trainer and light attack aircraft as part of efforts to clinch emerging requirements in Latin America and Asia. The decision to fit the Lockheed Martin APG-67(V)4 multimode radar follows input from at least one unnamed prospective cus tomer. The upgrade improves the light attack variant's air-to-air and air-to-ground attack capabilities. Minor modifications to the Pampa's nose are required to accommodate the radar's 0.25m (lOin) diameter antenna. The deci sion follows a demonstration in Colombia in October last year, Planned Pampa developments will improve its strike capability although LMAASA declines to comment on this link. Sources close to the competition confirm, however, that a radar requirement is expected in the definitive request for proposals (RFP) that Colombia is likely to issue in the next four months. LMAASA says the AT-63 is in four competitions with total initial requirements for 60 aircraft. One is believed to be Singapore's training system requirement, an RFP for which is expected in January 2003. LMAASA is considering several options for the requirement including a mixed package includ ing simulators, training systems, AT-63 aircraft and possibly the T-50 being developed by Korea Aerospace Industries and Lockheed Martin. The radar is one option in a range of avionics, propulsion and weapon system upgrades being offered for the "Next Generation" AT-63. The first two aircraft incor porating baseline upgrades are being assembled at LMAASA's Cordoba site, and the first will fly in November. A further 10 new-build AT-63s, together with 12 remanufactured aircraft are due to be delivered to the Argentinan air force by June 2005. LMAASA adds, however, that the timescale for the refurbished air craft has "gone to the right" and no definite timescale, other than the delivery deadline, exists. The upgraded Argentinan AT-63s incorporate an Elbit avionics suite with a single multifunction display (MFD), although LMAASA expects future customers to specify full glass cockpits with dual MFDs. Future options include a more ..powerful Honeywell TFE731-41R turbofan. IN BRIEF POWER PLAY Snecma is proposing the improved M53-PX3 turbofan for the Dassault Mirage 2000BR competing for Brazil's F-X fighter competition. The engine is digi tally controlled and has an improved high-pressure turbine offering 10% increased thrust on the baseline engine or extended durability. Snecma plans to make the improvement retrofirtable. SEE STORY P14 SECOND CESSNA Cessna has delivered a Citation Bravo to Chile's Club Aero de Carabineros for transport and emergency medical service mis sions. It is the Santiago-based organisation's second Cessna. MARITIME PATROL Brazil nears P-3BR upgrade choice Brazil is close to making a final selection of a systems integrator to upgrade its planned fleet of eight Lockheed Martin P-3BR Orion mar itime patrol aircraft. The deal will give the winner an important edge in competing for potential P-3 upgrade programmes in Argentina, Chile and Mexico. Three contenders are submitting best and final offers, and a final decision is expected by June. The programme consists of a service life extension of eight surplus US Navy airframes and the installation of modern cockpit avionics and an integrated sensor suite. Brazil wants to equip the P-3s with a new search radar and is understood to have already speci fied the Elta EL/M-2022. New generic capabilities include an elec tro-optical/infrared sensor, elec tronic support measures (ESM), acoustic processing, and a new magnetic anomaly detector. Galileo Avionica and sister com pany Alenia are competing with Air New Zealand and local com pany Mectron. The proposed com mercial-off-the-shelf system is a version of that installed on Italian customs service ATR 42MPs. Lockheed Martin's bid is led by its Tactical Systems division and is based on a further evolution of the US Navy's anti-submarine warfare improvement programme and the recent upgrade of Norway's four P-3C Update III aircraft. It will be open architecture with modular processors with software support from local company ATEC. EADS Casa is offering its Fully Integrated Tactical Systems (FITS) package derived from the system for the Spanish navy's P-3 upgrade. FITS is being demonstrated on a EADS Casa C295 Persuader and incorporates an Indra mission computer/tactical system. All three companies have their eye on requirements expected in the rest of Latin America. Chile operates four P-3As, which other than a standalone ESM system, have not been updated, while Argentina has six ageing Orions. Mexico is also looking at acquiring a number of ex-USN P-3s. 12 9-15 APRIL 2002 FLIGHT INTERNATIONAL www.flightinternational.com
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