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.

 

Il Regno Unito sostiene il progetto di caccia stealth TF-X di quinta generazione della Turchia tra le tensioni con la Grecia

avevo sperato che i problemi per il motore avessero portato alla fine della collaborazione ed invece pare di no

Il 15/12/2020 in 18:42 , Flaggy ha scritto:

F-35 per EAU, vendita sempre più vicina

Questo contratto non s'ha da fare, né domani, né mai !!! ?

Quote

A small, 2-year-old nonprofit think tank has taken a step that most advocacy organizations never dare try: It has sued the U.S. State Department to derail a $23 billion arms sale to the United Arab Emirates.
In a legal claim announced last month, the New York Center For Foreign Policy Affairs asserted that the Trump administration failed to provide a reasonable explanation for its decision to sell F-35 fighter jets and other weapons to the UAE, which places it in breach of the Administrative Procedure Act. 
It has asked the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia to find the sale invalid.
The case is unusual, as is the theory of the case, but so is the Trump administration’s approach to the sale, said Brittany Benowitz, a legal expert on human rights and arms trade.
Such legal challenges rarely succeed, but if this one does, it could halt the deal even if Washington and Abu Dhabi follow through with plans to sign contracts in the waning days of the Trump administration.
“If you can say this deal was executed improperly and the contractor was on notice of that, which they are, then I think you can say it’s possible to stop the sale before delivery,” Benowitz said.

... defensenews.com ... https://www.defensenews.com/congress/2021/01/12/lawsuit-threatens-23b-weapons-sale-to-uae/ ...

 

Programma HX ... la Finlandia ha chiesto alle aziende in competizione che presentino la loro ultima e migliore offerta ...

Quote

The Finnish Defence Forces Logistics Command sent the Request for Best and Final Offer for the HX Fighter Programme on 29 January 2021. 
The Request for Best and Final Offer concerns the following multi-role fighters and their related systems and weapons: Boeing F/A-18 Super Hornet (United States), Dassault Rafale (France), Eurofighter Typhoon (Great Britain), Lockheed Martin F-35 (United States) and Saab Gripen (Sweden). 
The deadline for finalised tenders is 30 April 21.

defmin.fi ... https://www.defmin.fi/en/frontpage/administrative_branch/strategic_capability_projects/hx_fighter_program ...

??

Su Aviation Report c'è anche l'articolo in italiano

Caccia LM F-21 ... qualora l'India dovesse scegliere questa particolare versione dello F-16, il velivolo verrebbe dotato di un sedile eiettabile Martin-Baker ...

... pilot.co.ke ... https://pilot.co.ke/2021/02/04/martin-baker-mk18-seat-selected-for-indian-f-21-bid/ ...

?? ??

Modificato 4 febbraio 20215 anni da TT-1 Pinto
***

Anche questa  fa mercato : 

https://www.blogbeforeflight.net/2021/02/austria-new-trainer-aircraft-procurement.html

Programma HX ... la Svezia sta esercitando pressioni sulla Finlandia ...

Quote

Top Swedish defense officials have thrown their weight behind Saab’s bid for the multibillion-dollar HX fighter competition in Finland, arguing the Gripen aircraft would enable unprecedented cooperation between the two countries in thwarting a hypothetical attack by Russia.
The Finnish race is one of two big-ticket aircraft competitions in Europe — Switzerland being the other — where major vendors from both sides of the Atlantic are jockeying for position. 
Finland has requested final offers by the end of April from Airbus for the Eurofighter; Dassault for the Rafale; Boeing for the Super Hornet; Lockheed Martin for the F-35; and Saab for the Gripen E/F.

... defensenews.com ... https://www.defensenews.com/global/europe/2021/02/17/swedish-defense-leaders-push-saabs-gripen-offer-for-finland/ ...

?? ...? ... ??

Potrebbe essere l'Indonesia il primo acquirente estero dello F-15EX ...

... airforcemag.com ... https://www.airforcemag.com/indonesia-could-be-first-non-usaf-customer-for-f-15ex/ ...

... ainonline.com ... https://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/defense/2021-02-19/indonesia-confirms-interest-f-15ex-and-other-new-assets ...

?? ??? ??

e non solo f15ex

Quote

In effeti, secondo quanto dichiarato dal capo di stato maggiore dell'aeronautica militare indonesiana, il maresciallo dell'aeronautica Fajar Prasetyo, nel corso di un incontro avvenuto presso la sede dell'Air Force giovedì 18 febbraio, quest'ultimo intende ufficializzare quest'anno l'ordine per 36 Rafale dalla Francia, ma anche 8 caccia pesanti F-15EX del Boeing americano, 6 dei quali a sarà consegnato nel 2022. Inoltre, l'aeronautica militare indonesiana ordinerà 2 aerei cisterna C-130J da Lokcheed-Martin, oltre a droni MALE Medium Altitude Long Endurance, uno strumento che riteniamo essenziale per il monitoraggio dell'immenso arcipelago indonesiano.

 

Defense Minister of Qatar visits Leonardo facilities

Procede, a Taiwan, il programma di aggiornamento degli F-16 ...

Quote

Taiwan's Air Force has already upgraded 42 F-16 A/B jet fighters to the new F-16V standard, and it aims to complete all 141 planned upgrades by 2023.
As part of a NT$110 billion (US$3.8 billion) military modernization project launched in 2016, the Air Force is upgrading all of its F-16 A/Bs to the F-16V variant, which is equipped with more advanced avionics, including the Helmet Mounted Cueing System, APG-83 Scalable Agile Beam Radar, and other electronic warfare systems. 
The work is being undertaken by U.S. manufacturer Lockheed Martin and Taiwan's state-run Aerospace Industrial Development Corporation.

... taiwannews.com ... https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/en/news/4153117 ...

🇹🇼 & 🇺🇸

Philippine Air Force wants more Super Tucano light attack aircraft from Blog Before Flight

ma tre o quattro Super Tucano da schierare sul Trieste non potrebbero essere utili?

No

2 ore fa, Yuri Gagarin ha scritto:

Philippine Air Force wants more Super Tucano light attack aircraft from Blog Before Flight

ma tre o quattro Super Tucano da schierare sul Trieste non potrebbero essere utili?

Scusa ma mi sfugge, l'utilità?

Allestire una linea di volo di sole 2/3 macchine per averne operative quante?  A che costi?

Cosa ti fa pensare che il Super Tucano possa operare dal Trieste?

chiedevo, semplice suriosità.

 

Boh !!!

Botswana gives boost to new fighter jet procurement from Blog Before Flight

Quote

The renewed call for new aircraft has mobilized several manufacturers, they include Lockheed Martin (F-16), Saab (Gripen), Leonardo (M-346) and KAI (T-50/FA-50).

 

Il Pakistan sarebbe sul punto di adottare il caccia cinese J-10CE ...

Quote

Face à l’arrivée progressive des 36 Rafale Indien, l’état-major Pakistanais serait de plus en plus prompt à rééquiper rapidement sa force aérienne. 
En effet, dans le cadre d’un combat face au Rafale, elle ne pourrait qu’aligner ses nouveaux JF-17C et ses F-16 Block 50/52 modernisés par les turcs de TAI à l’aube des années 2010, de quoi faire douter la PAF sur une éventuelle victoire. 
L’hypothèse d’un achat de chasseurs J-10C Chinois refait donc surface, plus de 15 ans après les premières déclarations à la presse sur ce sujet.

... air-cosmos.com ... https://www.air-cosmos.com/article/j-10ce-en-urgence-pour-le-pakistan-24707 ...

🇵🇰 & 🇨🇳

Programma HX ...  sono state presentate le offerte finali dei competitori ...

Quote

Finnish officials have received final offers from five vendors for the multibillion-dollar HX fighter jet competition, kicking off an evaluation phase slated to run throughout 2021.
With a tender ceiling of €9 billion (U.S. $11 billion), the competition is one of the biggest air-armament acquisitions in Europe. 
It aims to find a replacement for the Nordic country’s fleet of F-18 Hornets.
The usual suspects of Western suppliers responded by the April 30 deadline: Saab with its Gripen; Dassault with the Rafale; Lockheed Martin with its F-35; Boeing’s F-18 Super Hornet’ and the Eurofighter, made by a consortium of Airbus, BAE Systems and Leonardo.

... defensenews.com ... https://www.defensenews.com/global/europe/2021/05/03/finnish-officials-begin-sifting-through-final-hx-fighter-offers/ ...

🇫🇮

Rafale: +30 per l’Egitto .

https://www.lopinion.fr/edition/international/l-egypte-confirme-signature-d-contrat-l-achat-30-rafale-a-france-243646

Il 4/5/2021 in 19:49 , Passante ha scritto:

Rafale: +30 per l’Egitto .

https://www.lopinion.fr/edition/international/l-egypte-confirme-signature-d-contrat-l-achat-30-rafale-a-france-243646

Il commento, con l'amaro in bocca, del Direttore di RID ...

… rid.it ... https://www.rid.it/shownews/4157 ...

🇫🇷 & 🇪🇬

La Croazia ha scelto di rimpiazzare i suoi 12 Mig-21 con altrettanti Rafale usati.

Scelta a mio avviso particolare visto che gli altri due caccia papabili  (Gripen ed F16) sono entrambi più cost effective del velivolo francese e possono portare più tipi di armamento.

Secondo voi a cos'è dovuta la decisione?

https://www.flightglobal.com/defence/croatia-extends-rafale-export-wins-to-five-countries/143960.article

La Malesia è alla ricerca di un caccia leggero/addestratore avanzato ...

Quote

In Malesia è partita la gara internazionale afferente il programma Light Combat Aircraft/Fighter Lead In Trainer (LCA/FLIT). 
Il Ministero della Difesa malese, lo scorso 22 giugno, ha provveduto ad emettere il relativo bando di gara.
Le aziende interessate dovranno far pervenire le loro offerte entro il termine massimo del prossimo 22 settembre.
--- --- ---
E’ prevedibile che al concorso parteciperanno i principali produttori di velivoli d’addestramento avanzato/caccia leggeri al mondo tra cui Leonardo con il M-346 FA/FT (*), Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) con il T/F-50 Golden Eagle, Saab insieme a Boeing con il T-7A Red Hawk, anche se quest’ultimo accusa ritardi di almeno un anno per la messa in produzione, ed ovviamente BAE Systems che proporrà la versione aggiornata del Hawk.
Anche la russa Yakovlev potrebbe essere nella partita con lo Yak-130 poiché la RMAF ha già in servizio velivoli di produzione russa, tra cui MiG-29 e Su-30.

... aresdifesa.it ... https://aresdifesa.it/al-via-in-malesia-il-programma-light-combat-aircraft-fighter-in-lead-trainer/ ...

(*) ... leonardocompany.com ... https://www.leonardocompany.com/it/global/asia/malaysia ...

🇲🇾

 

Quasi sicuro l f35 alla Svizzera

 

https://www.20min.ch/story/viola-amherd-moechte-f-35-kampfflugzeuge-kaufen-167391694629

Modificato 25 giugno 20215 anni da maxiss

41 minuti fa, maxiss ha scritto:

Quasi sicuro l f35 alla Svizzera

https://www.20min.ch/story/viola-amherd-moechte-f-35-kampfflugzeuge-kaufen-167391694629

Mica tanto ... se hai letto bene l'articolo ... vi si afferma che "il Consiglio Federale deve ancora discutere questa decisione" ... e non solo ... è anche in vista una consistente battaglia politica con tanto di referendum popolare incluso ... quindi, prima di cantar vittoria, aspetterei l'evoluzione dei fatti ...

Se poi la cosa si concretizzasse ... dove verrebbero prodotti i velivoli ... negli USA o a Cameri che, si può dire, è a pochi passi dai confini con la Confederazione ?