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Aviation History
2004
2004-09 - 2576.PDF
DEFENCE STRIKE AIRCRAFT Colombian programme takes off Eleven bidders set to compete for $235m contract to replace air force's Cessna A-37Bs and Rockwell OV-10As Eleven companies competing to equip the Colombian air force with a fleet of light strike aircraft will submit bids by 20 December, after the release of a request for propos als late last month. The responses will be followed by an evaluation period including in-country flight demonstrations next February. The defence ministry will announce a preferred solution on 21 March. PROCUREMENT Worth $235 million, the pro gramme seeks 24 aircraft to replace the air force's surviving Cessna A-37Bs and Rockwell OV-10A Broncos. Six of Colombia's eight remaining A-37s are available for use, while its OV-10 fleet has been reduced to a single operational air craft. A further six are undergoing overhaul and modernisation to extend their service lives until 2009. The air force has requested a two-seat turboprop-powered air craft with air-to-air and air-to- ground strike capabilities, a combat radius of at least 555km (300nm) and a 200kt (370km/h) cruising speed at 16,100ft (4,910m). Other key requirements include a night vision goggle-compatible cockpit with hands on throttle and stick controls, multifunction displays, Bogota revives signals intelligence contest Colombia's defence ministry is believed to have revived plans to buy a dedicated signals intelligence (SIGINT) air craft for the Colombian air force, reversing a decision from earlier this year to defer the procurement. The increased sophistication of Colombia's cocaine-producing cartels, paramilitary groups and FARC and ELN rebel groups are behind the change, say Colombian sources. Budgeted at almost $20 million, the programme will seek one twin-engined pressurised turboprop aircraft equipped with a synthetic aperture radar and a SIGINT suite capable of performing high, very high and ultra-high frequency communications interception, analysis and direction finding tasks. Prime contenders include Israel Aircraft Industries, Raytheon and Saab, with a system selection potentially due in early 2005 for delivery in mid- 2006. Local observers believe Raytheon's proposal will be favoured, as the air force already operates three Beechcraft King Air transports. secure communications and advanced navigation equipment. The aircraft should also have a forward-looking infrared sensor and an integrated self-protection system. Its armaments will include free-fall bombs, rockets and an onboard or podded gun, and it should be able to operate from a 1,300m (4,260ft) unprepared strip. Leading contenders include Em- braer's EMB-314 Super Tucano, Korea Aerospace Industries' KTO-1 and the Pilatus PC-21, offered with Raytheon. Despite Colombia's request for a turboprop, the CATIC- promoted K-8 and Lockheed Martin Aircraft Argentina AT-63 Pampa jet trainers are also on offer. Also in the hunt are Garper Group, Global Aerotech, Hindustan Aeronautics, Sun Lake Aircraft, Tysa SA/Radom and Russia's Rosoboronexport, pos sibly offering Yakovlev's Yak-130. The C-17 Globemaster III is the world's most versatile airlifter, performing a vast comple ment of strategic and theater ops missions. It can fly payloads up to 160,000 lbs. any where in the world, land in 3,000 ft. or less, and load/offload with virtually no ground . An ideal combination for long-range theater operations and any mission where turn time is critical. It's what makes the C-17 like nothing else, by any measure. Forever New Frontiers
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