Il giornalista Robert Wall fa il punto, su "Aviation Week & Space Technology", sull'attuale situazione del mercato dei caccia ....

 

 

Fighter Contenders See Multiple Export Opportunities

 

By Robert Wall - July 09, 2012

 

Source ....

 

With India, Japan and Switzerland having made their fighter decisions, the market is starting to turn to smaller campaigns as aircraft makers look to build backlogs to sustain production lines that may otherwise be nearing their end.

 

Competitions in South Korea and Brazil still attract industry players, but after those, the list of buyers thins out to countries with more limited budgets seeking to buy smaller numbers. That means manufacturers are starting to pay attention even to small countries like Botswana, and its eventual F-5 replacement needs.

 

That is not to say the incentive to promote high-end offerings is diminishing. Being able to deliver the most advanced systems possible remains an issue of more than bragging rights. That has Eurofighter officials eager to show that they are finally making progress in the increasingly important realm of active, electronically scanned array technology, where the European consortium has been trailing rivals.

 

The first Captor-E is due to be delivered in the second quarter of 2012, says Bob Mason, vice president for radar marketing and sales at Selex Galileo, one of the partners in the Euroradar consortium. The first Typhoon with the radar will fly next year. Most of the work so far has been financed by industry. A government-funded development contract is now expected in 2013. Industry still hopes to be able to field the system in 2015, although delays in the government's financing of the development program means the in-service date could slip into 2016.

 

The repositioner, designed to maintain IFF (identification friend or foe) polarity and increase the pilot's field of regard using the sensor, and upgraded back end with increased processing are now coming together, Mason says. The development is “low- risk,” he asserts. The basic radar will have air-to-air, air-to-ground and synthetic aperture radar modes.

 

The radar is intended for Tranche 3A fighters, but could be retrofit on Tranche 2 aircraft as well.

 

Pressure is mounting on Typhoon for sales in export markets, having already failed in Japan, India and Switzerland. South Korea, where the Typhoon is squaring off against the Lockheed Martin F-35 and Boeing F-15 Silent Eagle, is seen as a long shot, given the strong U.S. military presence on the peninsula. Malaysia is seen as a potential buyer, and the consortium also still hopes to make inroads in the United Arab Emirates, which has been in on-again, off-again talks with France to buy the Rafale.

 

For the Saab Gripen, last year's win in Switzerland and the subsequent commitment by Sweden to buy 60-80 of the new model E/F-standard aircraft has provided a shot in the arm, but export successes globally have been few.

 

Brazil could provide an important test case, opening the door not just to a new market but potentially to an entire region. Brazil's decision has been delayed numerous times, but Eddy de la Motte, vice president for marketing of the Swedish fighter, notes that “we get the feeling it is the end game.”

 

Saab could deliver the first Gripen E/F (also called the NG) fighter four years after a contract award, but it is still unclear if that is the schedule Brasilia will insist on, or whether it will join the combined Swiss/Swedish Gripen E/F development schedule, which would see the first fighter handed over in 2018.

 

The first Gripen E/F prototype is due to fly late next year if the Swiss and Swedish governments can agree on the development path forward. The effort would likely require some funding from Saab, too.

 

Meanwhile, the Selex Galileo Raven ES-05 active, electronically scanned array radar is to fly on the Gripen NG demonstrator soon, at which time the cockpit displays and sensor will be put through their paces.

 

The Swedish government has an offer on the table for potential export buyers, to accelerate its purchase if another country wants the Gripen E/F early but does not want to be the lead buyer. That offer remains open, de La Motte says.

 

A win in Brazil could open the door to other fighter deals in South America, adds Frederik Gustafson, regional director for Gripen exports in the Americas. “There is a huge need for new fighters in the region and the economies are growing,” he told reporters on the sidelines of the Aerospace Forum Sweden 2012. There are more than a handful of countries that are looking to buy in the next five years, he added.

 

But that is not the only region where Saab is working to meet its target of selling 300 fighters over the next decade. In Thailand, were it has already sold 12 Gripens (six are delivered with six to follow next year), it is hoping for additional deals. Malaysia, the Philippines, Indonesia and, “in a couple of years” Vietnam may also offer opportunities, de La Motte says.

 

Efforts also continue to extend the fighter lease deal with the Czech Republic and secure orders in Bulgaria, Romania, Croatia and Slovakia. Gripen also still hopes to convince Denmark and the Netherlands to defect from the F-35A Joint Strike Fighter program.

 

This year, the Czech Republic is due to make a decision on whether it will extend the fighter lease beyond 2015. The Czech air force currently operates 12 single-seat and two dual-seat Gripens under a lease deal that expires in 2015. The goal is to complete negotiations this year on how to preserve fighter capability.

 

The leading candidate, preferred by the air force, is an extension of the lease deal with the Swedish government, with 5-, 10- and 20-year options being discussed (the 10-year option is seen as the most likely). A decision should be taken this year to allow time for a fall-back plan in case the lease deal does not materialize, says air force chief Brig. Gen. Jiri Verner.

 

Securing additional orders is critical not only for European manufacturers, seeing a potential end of their production lines in this decade in the absence of additional orders. Boeing is looking to both additional F/A-18 purchases by the U.S. and fighter export campaigns to sustain its two fighter production lines—the F-15 and F/A-18—beyond their currently expected lives.

 

The current multi-year program with the U.S. Navy runs until about 2015, but Dennis Muilenburg, CEO of Boeing Defense, Space & Security (DSS), sees scope for sales of additional EA-18Gs to the Pentagon to extend production. “We see an opportunity domestically for the joint electronic attack requirement,” he tells reporters. But whether there is enough demand for a fourth multi-year contract is unclear he notes.

 

While Muilenburg acknowledges that the existing backlog sees pressure on the F-15 and F/A-18E/F production lines in the 5-10-year time frame, he argues that both products have shown resilience and been able to extend their lives.

 

Several important decisions affecting exports loom in the coming months. Before year-end, Brazil is to announce its F-X2 fighter decision where the F/A-18E/F is competing against the Gripen NG and the Dassault Rafale. South Korea is also expected to make its choice between the F-15, Lockheed Martin's F-35 and the Typhoon.

 

Boeing also foresees more clarity to emerge on Australia's plans in the third quarter. That is when a decision is likely on the mix between the F-35s and F/A-18Fs and whether additional Super Hornet purchases will be made, says Mark Kronenberg, vice president- international business development at Boeing DSS. “I don't think they are going to walk away completely from the F-35, but the mix is a factor,” he argues.

 

Boeing sees Denmark as an opportunity for the F/A-18, as well as some nervousness among F-35 buyers that could generate opportunities, Kronenberg says.

 

The Middle East is viewed as another potential hot spot for deals, with Qatar and Kuwait seen as potential F/A-18E/F buyers. Kronenberg notes that “in Kuwait you are starting to see movement I had not seen two years ago.”

 

The United Arab Emirates might be an opportunity for Boeing, but Kronenberg sees that as an F-15 market.

 

Extending the production lines is vital for Boeing to maintain skills until future programs—FA-XX for the U.S. Navy and F-X for the U.S. Air Force—advance beyond the concept study phase. However, Muilenburg notes that skills will also be sustained through other efforts, including work in unmanned aircraft and the USAF's next-generation bomber effort.

 

In consegna entro il mese ...

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Polonia ... il Dipartimento di Stato USA approva la vendita di 32 F-35A ...

Quote

The US State Department has approved the sale of 32 Lockheed Martin F-35A Lightning II stealth fighters to Poland as part of a package worth an estimated $6.5 billion.
NATO member Poland wanted the stealth aircraft as a counterweight to Russia, a country Poland has viewed as increasingly aggressive following invasions of Georgia and Ukraine. 
The F-35As are to replace the Polish air force’s Russian-built MiG-29 and Su-22 fighters, says a US State Department notice posted online on 11 September (*).
The deal has not been finalised.

... flightglobal.com ... USA approves $6.5bn sale of 32 F-35A stealth fighters to Poland ...

(*) ... dsca.mil ... Poland – F-35 Joint Strike Fighter Aircraft"...

Anche qui ... defensenews.com ... Poland cleared to buy F-35 fleet ...

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India & Rafale ... 

In vista l'ordine di un secondo lotto ...

Quote

A new order for a further 36 Dassault Rafale fighters will be signed in early 2020, suggests a recently published report by the Indian Defence Research Wing. 
Moves toward ordering a second batch were first reported in early 2017 and attributed to rising tensions with China. 
The new order would take India’s Rafale fleet to 72 aircraft - slightly more than half of the original 126-aircraft total outlined in the Medium Multi-Role Combat Aircraft (MMRCA or MRCA) requirement, an RFP for which was issued in 2007.
An order for a second batch of Rafales would likely spell the end of U.S. efforts to sell Boeing F/A-18 Super Hornets or Lockheed Martin F-21 (F-16V) Vipers to India and could help Dassault to win a place on the team developing India’s new fifth-generation AMCA (Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft).

... ainonline.com ... More Rafales for India? ...

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Modificato 28 settembre 20197 anni da TT-1 Pinto
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Tailandia ... volontà di coinvolgimento ...

Quote

Bangkok wants to be involved in the development of software when it eventually looks to obtain a new fighter.
In remarks made to the Bangkok Post (*), Royal Thai Air Force (RTAF) commander Maanat Wongwat said that a Concept of Project Requirements (COPR) will be developed for aircraft acquisitions.
"It's not that the airframe isn't that important, but the software is important too as it is the brain of a fighter jet” Wongwat is quoted as saying. 
“That's why we have to take part in developing it.”

... flightglobal.com ... Thailand wants software work for new fighter buy ...

(*) ... bangkokpost.com ... RTAF denies jet purchase bid ...

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La linea di condotta è quella di scegliere una macchina la cui si possa installare software ( e probabilmente ) avionica personalizzata per la forza aerea.

Considerando che non vogliono lo F-35 per i costi elevati , potrebbero optare per un ulteriore lotto di Gripen , macchina che si presta bene a questo tipo di operazione.

Il futuro potrebbero farlo ancora  se prendessero il Macchi 345 ( FA ? ), per sostituire gli F-5 .

India & Rafale ...

Consegnati i primi quattro esemplari ... allelùia ... ? ? ?

... flightglobal.com ... https://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/dassault-delivers-first-rafale-to-india-461332/ ...

... dassault--aviation.com ... https://www.dassault-aviation.com/fr/groupe/presse/press-kits/livraison-du-premier-rafale-au-gouvernement-indien/ ...

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Altri nove F-35 per l' Olanda ...

Quote

The Dutch government on Tuesday announced plans to purchase nine more of Lockheed Martin's F-35 jets, a move that would bring the country's inventory to 46.
The envisioned €1 billion acquisition will “lay the foundation” for a third F-35 squadron in the Dutch air force, a plan that government officials first floated in late 2018, according to a statement posted on the defense ministry website.
The additional aircraft are expected contribute to the air force's objective of having four jets available for NATO missions while also performing homeland defense operations and accounting for training requirements and maintenance downtime.

... e, per quanto concerne il futuro acquisto, non sembra vi sia timore che si possa andare incontro a problemi a livello politico ...

Quote

Dick Zandee, a defense analyst at the Clingendael think tank in The Hague, told Defense News the announced acquisition of nine more F-35s enjoys “broad support” in the Dutch parliament.

... defensenews.com ... The Netherlands to buy nine more F-35s for $1.1 billion ...

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Modificato 8 ottobre 20197 anni da TT-1 Pinto
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Corea del Sud ... altri venti F-35 ...

Quote

South Korea will begin the second phase of its plan to acquire stealthy fighter jets, code-named F-X III, by acquiring 20 more F-35s, the country’s arms procurement agency has confirmed.
The Asian economic power had ordered 40 F-35As for Air Force operations under a 2014 deal worth about $6.4 billion, with the delivery of the fifth-generation fighters starting earlier this year.
“The government is preparing to launch the second phase of the F-X III in 2021 for the five years to come,” the Defense Acquisition Program Administration, or DAPA, said in a report to the National Assembly on Oct. 7. 
About $3.3 billion will go toward buying the additional Lockheed Martin-made aircraft, the report noted.

... defensenews.com ... South Korea to buy 20 more F-35 jets ...

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Il 11/10/2019 in 00:32 , TT-1 Pinto ha scritto:

Corea del Sud ... altri venti F-35 ...

... defensenews.com ... South Korea to buy 20 more F-35 jets ...

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I nuovi aerei potrebbero essere F-35B ...

Quote

It remains uncertain as to which version of the Lightning II will be procured under the new phase of the program, which is valued at 4 trillion won ($3.35 billion). 
There were press reports that the National Security Office of the Blue House (the president's residence) had pushed the Air Force in April to consider purchasing the short-takeoff-and-vertical-landing F-35B, presumably to allow them to operate from the Navy’s two 14,500-tonne Dokdo-class amphibious assault ships, a planned 30,000-tonne carrier-type landing platform helicopter carrier, or more likely from a new class of aircraft carrier.

... ainonline.com ... More F-35 Fighters for South Korea ...

India & Rafale ...

Un commento di FlightGlobal sul 'trombonismo' francese e sulla inaffidabilità indiana ...

Quote

OPINION: Why India must learn from Rafale procurement ...
 
Source: FLIGHT INTERNATIONAL - October 11, 2019 

Pronouncements at aircraft handover ceremonies are not prone to understatement. 
Indeed, Dassault hailed its delivery of the first of 36 Rafale fighters to New Delhi as a “celebration of the history of mutual trust” between the French company and India.
It also added a hearty dollop of industrial participation sop in a bow to Indian prime minister Narendra Modi’s “Make in India” campaign. 
Dassault chief executive Eric Trappier tossed in that greatest of corporate accolades, stating that India is now "part of Dassault Aviation's DNA”.
Yet, the nation's 2016 deal for 36 French-assembled Rafales represents no great success for New Delhi or Dassault, but a concession prize. 
It happened only because a 126-aircraft medium multi-role combat aircraft (MMRCA) deal collapsed. 
Although the Rafale secured preferred status in 2012, three years of negotiation between Dassault and New Delhi ended in failure.
In addition to shattering New Delhi’s already nebulous credibility in defence procurement, the MMRCA debacle eliminated the Indian air force’s chances of obtaining a large infusion of urgently-needed fighters in a reasonable timeframe. 
Only Modi’s imperious leadership style allowed the 36 jet deal to happen.
New Delhi’s latest requirement for 110 fighters – cynically dubbed by some as ‘MMRCA 2.0’ – features the same contestants as last time.
It is to be hoped that lessons have been learned. 
Soaking up platitudes from a defence contractor is far easier than avoiding a repetition of history.

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Ancora a proposito della Corea del Sud e dei suoi caccia ...

Quote

The US State Department has cleared the possible sale of 120 Raytheon AIM-120C-7/C-8 AMRAAM missiles to South Korea.
A statement (*) from the Defense Security Cooperation Agency estimates the cost of the potential deal at $253 million. 
The package includes support equipment, logistics, and spare parts, and stems from an original request from Seoul.
The weapons will equip the Republic of Korea Air Force’s Boeing F-15Ks, as well as its Lockheed Martin F-16s and F-35s.

... flightglobal.com ... USA clears possible Korean AMRAAM sale ...

(*) ... dsca.mil ... Korea – AIM-120C Advanced Medium Range Air-to-Air Missile (AMRAAM) ...

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F-16 ... ancora buone prospettive ... ?

Quote

Lockheed Martin believes its backlog of orders for the F-16 Fighting Falcon aircraft could more than triple based on demand from Middle Eastern and Asian countries.
The company currently has a backlog of 30 F-16s, but anticipates orders for additional aircraft could increase its sales by at least another 60 examples, says Kenneth Possenriede, executive vice-president and chief financial officer of Lockheed Martin on the firm’s third quarter earnings call on 22 October.
“In our plan, we see countries like Morocco and other countries out in the Far East that in aggregate could grow our backlog by another 60 aircraft,” he says. 
“We see a great future for F-16.”

... flightglobal.com ... Lockheed Martin sees big demand for F-16 in Middle East & Asia ...

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Turchia ... prossimo acquisto ... i Su-35 ... ?? ??

... defensenews.com ... https://www.defensenews.com/air/2019/10/28/turkey-russia-in-advanced-talks-on-potential-su-35-jet-deal/ ...

In attesa delle reazioni di USA e NATO ...

Autarchia e differenziazione dei fornitori fregandosene che appartengano a un blocco o a quello concorrente. Sembra l'India ma è un paese NATO...D'altra parte è anche l'unico paese NATO (finchè dura...) con un regime liberticida. Non c'è più tanto da stupirsi se Erdogan persegue questa politica di approvvigionamento.

Modificato 29 ottobre 20197 anni da Flaggy

La pubblicità è l'anima del commercio ...

https://formiche.net/2019/10/russia-su35-propaganda-social-media-f35-turchia-usa/

Indonesia ... la politica dei due forni ...

Quote

The Indonesian air force plans to buy two squadrons of Lockheed Martin F-16 Block 72 Viper fighters, while also following through on its plan to purchase a squadron of Russian’s Sukhoi Su-35s.
Jakarta plans to make the formal request for the aircraft on 1 January 2020, Marshal Yuyu Sutisna, air force chief of staff, said to local news agency Antara on 28 October.
"Insya Allah (God willing), we will buy two squadrons in the next strategic plan 2020 to 2024. We will purchase the newest type of Block 72 Viper,” he says. 
"The fact that several countries use them, and their number is large means they have very good reliability."
Indonesia already operates 33 examples of the F-16, Sutisna says.

... flightglobal.com ... Indonesia plans to buy two squadrons of F-16s, but also Su-35s ...

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Turchia ... ecco chi le ha fornito armamenti ...

Quote

Who Supplied Turkey’s Arms?

U.S. and European companies have supplied much of the aircraft in the Turkish Air Force fleet to date, according to the Aviation Week Intelligence Network’s Michael Tint and Daniel Urchick. 
Will that change in the future? After Turkey’s military offensive in Syria, countries in the European Union lined up to restrict weapons exports to Ankara. 
And the U.S. Congress is considering a bill that would apply sanctions to military transactions. 
Source: Michael Tint and Daniel Urchick/Aviation Week Intelligence Network

Modificato 8 novembre 20196 anni da TT-1 Pinto
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Salto di qualità per le Forze Aeree della Mongolia ...

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Mongolia has accepted a pair of MiG-29UB two-seat fighters donated by Russia under the orders of President Putin. 
The acceptance ceremony took place on November 26 - the nation’s Independence Day - at the military base within the fence of the Chinggis Khaan International Airport that serves the capital city, Ulaan-Baatar.
Speaking at the event, the commander of the Mongolian air force, Brigadier General Enkhbayar, described it as the “opening of a new page for Mongolian aviation.” 
He added that the two aircraft, received free of charge, will improve the service’s combat efficiency, and enable it to fulfill the primary task of patrolling Mongolian airspace and keeping control of the nation’s borders. 
Addressing the personnel of 303 and 337 Squadrons, he called upon them to treat the two MiGs as “the symbols of our cooperation with Russia.”

Intanto ... in Polonia ...

Quote

In another development earlier this month, Poland made the decision to resume flying its MiG-29s, which have been grounded since March this year following two crashes. 
With 30 aircraft on strength, the type is the second most numerous tactical aircraft in the Polish air force inventory, after the F-16.

Fonte: ainonline.com ... Mongolia Takes MiG-29s as Poland Resumes Operations ...

Per quanto riguarda la Polonia ... ulteriori informazioni qui: flightglobal.com ... Poland removes MiG-29 grounding order ...

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Tendenze ... un'analisi che guarda al mercato degli armamenti ...

Quote

Chilling relations between the USA, China and Russia are forecast to push military spending higher in 2020, continuing a trend that bodes well for the aerospace industry.
Total defence spending is estimated to grow 3-4% next year to $1.9 trillion worldwide, with funds primarily spent on modernising and replacing aging military equipment, according to a report released in recent days by consultancy Deloitte.

... flightglobal.com ... https://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/analysis-great-power-friction-to-inflate-2020-mil-462640/ ...

 

 

Consegne ... 

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Volerà a inizio 2027 il futuro caccia nazionale turco ...

... kokpit.aero ... http://www.kokpit.aero/2027-de-gokyuzunde-olacak ...

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Che bello il google translator dal turco…

90 britannici che li aiutano, progetto preliminare finito nel 2022 e primo volo tra il 2026 e il 2027. Buona fortuna…

Andasse tutto bene (e ho i miei dubbi…) sono comunque 20 anni di ritardo rispetto all’F-35 per avere qualcosa che dubito sia più avanzato…

Taiwan ... prende il via il programma 'Phoenix Soaring' ...

Quote

Taiwan has confirmed that the US Foreign Military Sale of 66 Lockheed Martin F-16Vs to the Republic of China Air Force (ROCAF) is in the implementation stage, after both sides signed the letter of offer and acceptance (LOA).
Ministry of National Defense (MND) spokesperson Major General Shih Shun-wen announced on Saturday 21 December that the LOA for an arms package consisting of the F-16Vs, main battle tanks and anti-tank missiles was signed by both parties a week earlier on December 13.

... flightglobal.com ... Taiwan, USA proceed with F-16V deal ...

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Finlandia ... si comincia col Typhoon ...

Quote

Finland has launched the latest stage of its HX fighter contest, with a first candidate type now involved in flight evaluation from the nation’s Pirkkala air base.
Detailing the new phase in a blog post, Finnish defence ministry programme manager Lauri Puranen describes it as a “testing and verification event for HX candidates”. 
Intended to evaluate aircraft performance against the responses submitted following Helsinki’s earlier invitation to tender, the activity “will test the multifunction fighter and its systems on the ground, air, take-off and landing,” he adds.
The Eurofighter consortium’s Typhoon is the first model to begin the process, with two Royal Air Force examples having been deployed from the UK for an assessment window running from 9-17 January.

... flightglobal.com ... Finland launches HX fighter evaluation work ...

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Gli USA autorizzano l'acquisto di un piccolo numero di F-35B da parte di Singapore ...

Quote

The US State Department approved a possible Foreign Military Sale of up to 12 Lockheed Martin F-35B Lightning II stealth fighters to Singapore for an estimated $2.75 billion.
The Pentagon’s Defense Security Cooperation Agency says that it notified the US Congress on 9 January.
The potential deal would be for an initial package of four aircraft, with the option to buy eight more examples. 
The announcement was expected as Singapore said in January 2019 that it plans to use a small number of F-35s in an evaluation programme before buying additional jets.

... flightglobal.com ... USA approves Singapore to buy up to 12 F-35B stealth fighters ...

Anche qui ... defensenews.com ... Singapore gets the green light to buy F-35s ...

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