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.

 

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2021-12-05/finland-is-said-to-pick-lockheed-martin-f-35-jets-iltalehti

Finlandia in procinto di prendere l F35?

45 minuti fa, maxiss ha scritto:

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2021-12-05/finland-is-said-to-pick-lockheed-martin-f-35-jets-iltalehti

Finlandia in procinto di prendere l F35?

Leggi qui sotto, per cortesia ...

Feci questa ipotesi poco meno di un mese fa ... ed ora, con tutta probabilità, si sta avverando ...

Allora,se parliamo di ipotesi, questa scelta era quai scontata. Mi spingo oltre,Canada,ritornerà all ovile,ma deve trovare il modo di spiegarlo all opinione pubblica.Spagna,probabilmente la versione B pure per uso terrestre,non può permettersi anche la A.Taiwan.Grecia più avanti. Australia anche il B in chiave anticinese con nuove portaerei corte?

2 ore fa, maxiss ha scritto:

Allora, se parliamo di ipotesi, questa scelta era quasi scontata. Mi spingo oltre, Canada, ritornerà all'ovile, ma deve trovare il modo di spiegarlo all'opinione pubblica. Spagna, probabilmente la versione B pure per uso terrestre, non può permettersi anche la A. Taiwan. Grecia più avanti.  Australia anche il B in chiave anticinese con nuove portaerei corte?

Mi permetto di dubitare che l'Australia possa, al momento, pensare a nuove 'portaerei corte' ... impegnata com'è, e sarà per un bel pò di anni, con il programma dei nuovi sottomarini a propulsione nucleare.

Circola però la voce di un possibile, consistente acquisto di C-130J ...

... aresdifesa.it ... https://aresdifesa.it/trenta-tra-c130j-ed-kc130j-per-la-royal-australian-air-force/ ...

Si vedrà ...

La situazione è, comunque, abbastanza fluida ... e potrebbero saltar fuori sorprese ...

 

Intanto complimenti all' Hercules,come il Rafael lo davano commercialmente per morto ad inizio carriera,ma poi ha saputo rifarsi.

Riguardo all Australia,la mia considerazione è sicuramente un po'avventata,ma mi sembra che quei governanti siano molto soggiogati da Washington,quei sottomarini li impegneranno per 40anni e nel frattempo non è detto che la fobia russofona non faccia fare altri debiti,si sa che ci sono popoli che possono indebitarsi di più di altri..

Finlandia & F-35 ... altre fonti ...

... theaviationist.com ... https://theaviationist.com/2021/12/06/f-35-finland/ ...

... thedrive.com/the-war-zone ... https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/43392/finland-chooses-f-35-as-its-next-fighter-report ...

 

E qui la conferma

 

Finland orders 64 Lockheed F-35 fighter jets for $9.4 bln | Reuters

6 ore fa, maxiss ha scritto:

E qui la conferma

Finland orders 64 Lockheed F-35 fighter jets for $9.4 bln | Reuters

E allora ... possiamo pure mettere il link ... ti pare?

... reuters.com ... https://www.reuters.com/business/aerospace-defense/lockheed-f-35-jet-wins-finnish-fighter-competition-source-2021-12-10/ ...

Anche qui ... defensenews.com ... https://www.defensenews.com/global/europe/2021/12/10/finland-picks-the-f-35-as-its-next-fighter-continuing-the-us-warplanes-inroads-in-europe/ ...

E qui ... news.lockheedmartin.com ... https://news.lockheedmartin.com/2021-12-10-Finland-Selects-F-35-Lightning-II-as-Its-Next-Fighter ...

E ... mi voglio rovinare ... aggiungo anche questo ...

... valtioneuvosto.fi/en ... https://valtioneuvosto.fi/en/-/the-lockheed-martin-f-35a-lightning-ii-is-finland-s-next-multi-role-fighter ...

🇫🇮 & 🇺🇸 

Per ora gli indiani produrranno le ali dell' f16,poi magari in futuro l aereo completo..

 

 

https://www.thedefensepost.com/2021/12/09/tata-lockheed-f21-wings-india/

Un commento dalla Svizzera ... paese che ha preceduto di pochi mesi la Finlandia nell'acquisto dei nuovi caccia ...

... psk.blog.24heures.ch ... http://psk.blog.24heures.ch/archive/2021/12/10/le-f-35a-grand-vainqueur-des-tests-en-finlande-872184.html ...

🇨🇭

🇫🇮

Ai Francesi la scelta della Finlandia non è andata proprio a genio ... 

... dassault-aviation.com/en ... https://www.dassault-aviation.com/en/group/press/press-kits/finland-chooses-the-us-with-the-f-35/ ...

🇫🇷 🇺🇸 & 🇫🇮

Per carità,i francesi sono una nazione nella testa,noi una colonia.

Però proprio non sanno perdere..

20 EF-2000 nuovi alla Spagna

https://www.rid.it/shownews/4615

e 32 F-16 norvegesi alla Romania

https://www.rid.it/shownews/4614

F-35 che viene...F-35 che va...

E vanno decisamente male le trattative con gli Emirati dove c'è troppa Cina...

https://edition.cnn.com/2021/12/14/middleeast/uae-weapons-deal-washington-china-intl/index.html

M-346 ... prossimo acquirente l'Egitto?

Cita

Secondo il portale Africa Intelligence sarebbe prossima a materializzarsi la commessa egiziana per 24 M346 prodotti da Leonardo.
Il velivolo M346 sarebbe stato selezionato nella versione FT o Fighter Trainer, versione multiruolo convertibile da addestramento a velivolo da combattimento.

... aresdifesa.it ... https://aresdifesa.it/leonardo-prossima-ad-ottenere-la-commessa-per-ventiquattro-m346-dallo-egitto/ ...

Anche qui ... milanofinanza.it ... https://www.milanofinanza.it/news/leonardo-vicina-a-una-commessa-da-24-jet-m-346-con-l-egitto-l-f-35-vince-in-finlandia-202112141115219816 ...

🇮🇹 & 🇪🇬

L'Indonesia ha voltato le spalle alla Russia ...

Cita

Indonesia has admitted defeat in its attempt to buy Russian fighter jets and will now decide between the Boeing F-15EX Eagle II and the Dassault Rafale, according to the country’s Air Force chief of staff.
Speaking to media during a gathering at Halim Perdanakusuma Air Base near the Indonesian capital Jakarta, Air Chief Marshal Fadjar Prasetyo said the Southeast Asian nation is seeking a 4.5-generation mediumweight or heavyweight fighter.
He said the narrowing of the choices to the American F-15EX and the French Rafale was made together with the Defense Ministry, adding that Indonesia wants two to three squadrons’ worth of fighter jets, depending on the budget.

... defensenews.com ... https://www.defensenews.com/air/2021/12/22/indonesia-gives-up-on-russian-aircraft-purchase-instead-turning-to-us-and-french- options/ ...

🇮🇩 

J-10 al Pakistan

https://theaviationist.com/2022/01/03/pakistan-j-10-deal/

Ed ennesimi dubbi amletici per la Germania :

https://www.blogbeforeflight.net/2022/01/germany-appears-want-f35.html

La stagione dei saldi :

https://www.aviation-report.com/diamo-occhiata-mercato-aerei-da-combattimento-di-seconda-mano-2021/

Modificato 9 gennaio 20224 anni da engine

La Thailandia sarà la prossima con l F35??

 

 

https://eurasiantimes.com/more-f-35-stealth-fighters-for-asia-after-south-korea-japan-is-thailand-aiming-to-acquire-worlds-best-warplanes/

Gli Stati Uniti hanno approvato l'acquisto di 16 caccia F-16C/D Block 70 e relativi equipaggiamenti da parte della Giordania ...

Cita

The State Department has made a determination approving a possible Foreign Military Sale to the Government of Jordan of F-16 C/D Block 70 Aircraft and related equipment for an estimated cost of $4.21 billion. 
The Defense Security Cooperation Agency delivered the required certification notifying Congress of this possible sale today.
The Government of Jordan has requested to buy twelve (12) F-16 C Block 70 aircraft; four (4) F-16 D Block 70 aircraft; twenty-one (21) F100-GE-129D engines or F100-PW229EEP engines (16 installed, 5 spares) ...

... dsca.mil ... https://www.dsca.mil/press-media/major-arms-sales/jordan-f-16-cd-block-70-aircraft ...

🇺🇸 & 🇯🇴

Dopo un inizio stentato e il rischio di vedere solo in casa è indubbio che il Rafale sta ottenendo successo all'estero...

Firmato il contratto per 42 all'Indonesia

Nonostante tutto ... gli Stati Uniti non demordono ...

... breakingdefense.com ... https://breakingdefense.com/2022/02/state-department-approves-13b-f-15ex-sale-to-indonesia-on-heels-of-rafale-deal/ ...

... dsca.mil ... https://www.dsca.mil/press-media/major-arms-sales/indonesia-f-15id-aircraft ...

🇺🇸 & 🇮🇩

 

La Finlandia ha formalizzato l'accordo di acquisto di 64 F-35 Block 4 ...

Cita

Finland finalized its $9.4 billion purchase of 64 Lockheed Martin F-35s and support services, signing a letter of offer and acceptance, announced Feb. 11, that calls for the jets to be delivered before the end of 2030. 
The agreement provides Finland with industrial participation on the program.
The F-35A conventional-takeoff jets will be of the Block 4 configuration and replace Finland’s F/A-18C/D fighters, which will be phased out as the new aircraft arrive, starting in 2025. 
In addition to providing Finland with a fifth-generation fighter, the deal will provide Finnish companies “high technology engineering and manufacturing economic benefits,” Lockheed Martin F-35 vice president and program manager Bridget Lauderdale said in a press statement.

... airforcemag.com ... https://www.airforcemag.com/finland-formalizes-deal-for-64-block-4-f-35s/ ...

🇫🇮 & 🇺🇸

Il Bangladesh potrebbe puntare sull'Eurofighter Typhoon quale successore agli ormai obsolescenti caccia cinesi e russi che ha attualmente in dotazione ...

Cita

Bangladesh has a requirement for 16 new multirole combat aircraft (MRCA) to augment and eventually replace its aging Chengdu F-7s and MiG-29s, and the nation wants to turn westward after decades of purchasing its fighter aircraft from Russia and China. 
The impetus for the shift came in 2015, with the appointment of a new Chief of the Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal Abu Esrar, who wanted to phase out the Bangladesh Air Force fleet of Russian and Chinese fighters and replace them with Western aircraft. 
Esrar evaluated the Eurofighter Typhoon at the 2016 Farnborough International Airshow and he reportedly “fell in love with it.” 
Esrar’s successor, Air Chief Marshal Masihuzzaman Serniabat, appears equally enthusiastic, though a planned evaluation with Leonardo fell victim to the Covid pandemic.

... ainonline.com ... https://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/defense/2022-02-10/bangladesh-sizes-typhoons-fighter-requirement ...

🇧🇩