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.

 

Un acquisto di Eurofighter in realtà c'è stato ... ma da parte della Spagna ...

... airbus.com/en/newsroom ... https://www.airbus.com/en/newsroom/press-releases/2022-06-spain-orders-20-eurofighter-jets-under-landmark-contract-to ...

... theaviationist.com ... https://theaviationist.com/2022/06/23/spain-orders-20-new-eurofighters/ ...

🇪🇸

 

Modificato 23 giugno 20224 anni da TT-1 Pinto
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Dopo il via libera americano agli F-16 in Turchia,  la Grecia fa un passo avanti verso gli F-35...

https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/greece-submit-request-purchase-20-lockheed-f-35-fighter-jets-soon-sources-2022-06-30/

La Turkish Aerospace (TAI) effettuerà il roll out del caccia stealth da superiorità aerea di quinta generazione TF-X nel 2023 ...

Cita

The centenary of the founding of the modern Turkish Republic takes place on October 29, 2023, making it a year of the utmost importance in the domestic calendar. 
To mark another important date in Turkey’s military history, on March 18, 2023 several debut or appearance flights staged by Turkish Aerospace (TAI) will take place, marking the 108th year since the Çanakkale Victory, when Ottoman forces repelled British and French naval forces during World War I's Gallipoli campaign. 
Perhaps most notably, TAI plans on that day to roll out the TF-X fifth-generation stealth air superiority fighter under development in partnership with BAE Systems.  
“Turkish Aerospace continues to expand its development work for the global aviation industry,” TAI chief executive Temel Kotil told AIN. 
“From helicopters to unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), aircraft to space programs, TAI continues its success as one of the world's top 100 defense companies.”

... ainonline.com ... https://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/defense/2022-07-12/tai-roll-out-turkish-fighter-2023 ...

🇹🇷

La Repubblica Ceca prevede di acquistare 24 F-35A e inizierà presto i negoziati con gli Stati Uniti ...

Cita

The Czech Republic plans to buy 24 F-35As, which would make it the 16th nation to either buy F-35s or announce the intent to do so and the 10th member or soon-to-be member of NATO to select the jet.
In a July 20 Prague press conference, Czech prime minister Petr Fiala said the nation has “decided to enter into negotiations with our U.S. partners for the acquisition of the fifth-generation, supersonic F-35 multirole aircraft.” 
He also announced that the country will seek to buy Swedish infantry fighting vehicles. 
These moves will strengthen the Czech Republic’s armed forces “for decades to come,” he said. 
The country is interested in the F-35A conventional takeoff version.

... airforcemag.com ... https://www.airforcemag.com/czech-republic-plans-to-buy-f-35s-as-new-fighter-would-be-16th-customer/ ...

🇨🇿 

Modificato 20 luglio 20224 anni da TT-1 Pinto
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Lo F/A-18 Super Hornet ha completato con successo, in India, i test di compatibilità per l'impiego su portaerei STOBAR ... 

Cita

Boeing announced on Jul. 20, 2022 (*), that its F/A-18 Super Hornet successfully completed operational demonstration tests at Indian Naval Station Hansa in Goa, India. 
The tests were aimed at showing the Super Hornet’s ability to effectively and safety operate off Indian Navy STOBAR (Short Take-Off But Arrested Recovery) aircraft carriers, such as the INS Vikramaditya and the under-construction INS Vikrant, complementing its MiG-29K Fulcrums.
Two U.S. Navy F/A-18E Super Hornets, one of those sporting the markings of Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 25 “Fist of the Fleet” based at Naval Air Station Lemoore, California, “completed multiple ski-jumps, roll-in and fly-in arrestments, as well as performance flights, in a variety of weights in the air-to-air, air-to-ground, and air-to-surface configurations, meeting the Indian Navy test requirements.”

... theaviationist.com ... https://theaviationist.com/2022/07/21/f-a-18-super-hornet-india/ ...

(*) ... boeing.mediaroom.com ... https://boeing.mediaroom.com/news-releases-statements?item=131106 ...

🇺🇸 & 🇮🇳

KAI FA-50 ... questa è la scelta della Polonia per la sostituzione dei vecchi MiG-29 e Su-22 di origine sovietica ...
Un'occasione persa per Leonardo che aveva presentato lo M-346 FA (Fighter Attack) ...

Cita

Secondo quanto affermato dal Ministro della Difesa e Vice Primo Ministro Mariusz Blaszczak la Polonia acquisterà 48 velivoli d’attacco leggero FA-50 dalla Corea del Sud, nell’ambito del rafforzamento dell’esercito a causa della guerra in Ucraina. 
La KAI sta discutendo la vendita dei 48 caccia FA-50 per un valore di circa 2,6 miliardi di dollari.
L’invasione del 24 febbraio, che Mosca chiama “operazione militare speciale”, ha sollevato timori per la sicurezza in molti ex paesi del blocco orientale e la Polonia, membro della NATO, ha promesso di aumentare la spesa per la difesa fino al 3% del prodotto interno lordo e di aumentare a più del doppio le dimensioni del suo esercito per scoraggiare qualsiasi attacco.
“Siamo interessati all’acquisto di tre squadroni, ovvero 48 aerei”, ha detto Blaszczak. 
“Il primo aereo sarà consegnato in Polonia l’anno prossimo. Stiamo concludendo i negoziati su questo argomento, siamo vicini alla fine. Tutto sommato, sarà un salto nelle capacità di combattimento del nostro esercito”. 
I velivoli sud coreani dovrebbero andare a sostituire i MiG-29 Fulcrum e gli ultimi Su-22 Fitter.

... aviation-report.com ... https://www.aviation-report.com/polonia-acquistera-48-nuovi-jet-fa50-dalla-corea-del-sud/ ...

🇵🇱 & 🇰🇷

Sembra che questo acquisto faccia parte di un accordo ben più ampio che comprende carri K2, obici K9 e dei veicoli trasporto fanteria Borsuk

Modificato 25 luglio 20224 anni da FrancescoBaracca

29 minuti fa, FrancescoBaracca ha scritto:

Sembra che questo acquisto faccia parte di un accordo ben più ampio che comprende carri K2, obici K9 e dei veicoli trasporto fanteria Borsuk

Infatti ... notesfrompoland.com ... https://notesfrompoland.com/2022/07/23/poland-to-buy-fighter-planes-howitzers-and-tanks-from-south-korea/ ...

Boeing ritiene che la scelta migliore per l'Aviazione Navale Indiana sia il suo F/A-18 Super Hornet ...

Cita

US aerospace major Boeing on Wednesday pitched its F/A-18 Super Hornet as the best platform to address the Indian Navy's requirement of deck-based jets for aircraft carrier INS Vikrant.
Top officials of Boeing said the company anticipates USD 3.6 billion in economic impact to the Indian aerospace and defence industry over the next 10 years if F/A-18 Super Hornet Block III is selected.
The Navy has shortlisted F/A-18 Super Hornet and Rafale M aircraft produced by the French aerospace major Dassault Aviation for the procurement.
Over four years back, the Indian Navy had initiated the process to acquire 57 multi-role combat aircraft for its aircraft carrier. 
However, the Navy plans to procure 26 aircraft initially.
Boeing India President Salil Gupte said F/A-18 Super Hornet Block III would be the best deck-based aircraft for the Indian Navy and that the company plans to further strengthen its 'Make in India' initiatives, building on a successful track record of contributing to the country's indigenous aerospace and defence ecosystem.

... business-standard.com ... https://www.business-standard.com/article/current-affairs/boeing-hard-sells-f-a-18-super-hornet-to-indian-navy-for-ins-vikrant-122082401031_1.html ...

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F-35 ... un'ondata di acquisti ...

Cita

The past four years have proved fruitful for Lockheed Martin in Europe, as six nations have hitched their wagons to the American company’s fifth-generation F-35 fighter jet.
Despite calls from French leaders for its neighbors to “buy European,” the F-35 has consistently beat out homegrown candidates in the most recent fighter jet competitions, including the Dassault Rafale, Saab’s JAS 39 Gripen, and the Eurofighter Typhoon developed by Airbus, BAE Systems and Leonardo.
This wave of success comes down to the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter’s high rate of interoperability with allies and partners, particularly in NATO, along with its guaranteed upgrade road map, analysts told Defense News. 
But more than anything, they noted, the jet arrived in Europe with pristine timing, as multiple nations were itching to refresh their fleets by the end of the decade.

... defensenews.com ... https://www.defensenews.com/global/europe/2022/09/04/how-the-f-35-swept-europe-and-the-competition-it-could-soon-face/ ...

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E' una questione di "qualita'" e di "soldi". L' F-35 e' competitivo anche perche' e' gia' costruito... e perche' sara' costruito in gran numero. Il caso svizzero, soprattutto, e' piu' che chiaro. Un miliardo di CHF di differenza fra il prodotto USA e i concorrenti made in Europe non e', evidentemente,...da poco. Come dire che, per far piacere a Francia e Germania, le Forze aeree svizzere, per la medesima cifra, avrebbero dovuto rinunciare a una squadriglia! E, per carita', anche la svedese SAAB non e' che venda gratis il suo grifone...

Qualità e prezzo non sono le uniche variabili...o meglio, la stessa qualità assume un significato diverso per forze aeree diverse a seconda dei requisiti prestazionali, manutentivi e...politici. Non esiste un unico metro di giudizio. E' per questo che si continuano a vendere Rafale, EF-2000 e pure Gripen.

Modificato 5 settembre 20224 anni da Flaggy

Indubbiamente, per esempio, la vendita dei Rafale a Egitto è Grecia e' stata chiaramente "politica". Quanto poi ai successi dei prodotti europei...beh, parecchi anni fa, ai tempi della "saga" tutta svizzera dei Gripen, si parlava diffusamente delle ambizioni di vendita. Certi dati li ho scritti anch' io e, mi pare, non si sono ancora raggiunti i totali di unita' di vendita ipotizzati o previsti per i soli Paesi produttori. Il dominio USA, complice ovviamente il "mercato" interno, mi pare evidente.

Si, beh, grazie al cavolo che non si siano raggiunti i numeri inizialemte ipotizzati per i paesi produttori: nel frattempo è finita la guerra fredda e c’è stata una crisi economica. Non a caso ora c'è un inversione di tendenza in Germaina e Spagna che come tutti gli altri avevano a suo tempo cancellato gli EF-2000 TR 3B.

Comunque tra le altre variabili non c’è certo solo la politica.

La Germania ha confermato l'acquisto degli F-35 ...

Cita

The German Ministry of Defense announced today it is procuring 35 Lockheed Martin 5th Generation F-35 Lightning II aircraft.
“Congratulations to Germany on procuring the F-35A. Germany is the ninth foreign military sales country to join the program,” said Lt. Gen. Michael Schmidt, F-35 Program Executive Officer. 
“We look forward to working with them to deliver the F-35 Air System to meet their national defense requirements.”
The agreement includes a comprehensive package of engines, role-specific mission equipment, spare and replacement parts, technical and logistic support, training and armament.

... f35.com ... https://www.f35.com/f35/news-and-features/Germany-joins-F35-program.html ...

🇩🇪

La Colombia ha avviato le trattative con la Francia per l'acquisto di 16 aerei da combattimento Rafale ... ma la cosa, essendo presenti altre offerte, non sembra definitiva ...

... defensenews.com ... https://www.defensenews.com/air/2022/12/23/colombia-begins-negotiations-to-buy-16-rafale-fighter-jets/ ...

... ainonline.com ... https://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/defense/2022-12-24/rafale-front-runner-colombias-kfir-replacement ...

🇨🇴

 

Il Canada ha firmato ufficialmente un accordo per l'acquisto di 88 nuovi caccia F-35 ...

... airandspaceforces.com ... https://www.airandspaceforces.com/canada-officially-signs-deal-for-88-new-f-35-fighters/ ...

 

 

On 12/16/2021 at 12:11 AM, Flaggy said:

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

E Infatti hanno ordinato gli l-15 quando da anni la loro pattuglia acrobatica usa gli MB (ed è stata creata dalle nostre frecce tricolori dal nulla)

12 tra l'altro. Stessa quantità dei loro MB

 

https://www.defensenews.com/air/2022/02/25/uae-to-buy-a-dozen-chinese-l-15-trainer-aircraft/

Modificato 21 febbraio 20233 anni da nik978

L'Indonesia annuncia l'impegno ad acquistare il Boeing F-15EX ...

Cita

La Repubblica di Indonesia e Boeing hanno condiviso il loro impegno a finalizzare la vendita di 24 aerei F-15EX all'Indonesia, vendita soggetta all'approvazione del governo americano, in occasione di una visita negli Stati Uniti del Ministro della Difesa indonesiano Prabowo Subianto.
La firma di un Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) da parte del Vice Maresciallo dell'Aria Yusuf Jauhari, capo dell'Agenzia per le strutture di difesa, Ministero della Difesa indonesiano, e Mark Sears, vicepresidente e direttore del programma Boeing Fighters, ha avuto luogo oggi presso lo stabilimento Boeing di St. Louis dopo un tour della linea di produzione dell'F-15EX.

... boeing.mediaroom.com ... https://boeing.mediaroom.com/news-releases-statements?item=131310 ...

🇮🇩 & 🇺🇸

https://www.startmag.it/smartcity/f-35-tutto-sul-nuovo-contratto-di-lockheed-martin-e-cosa-fara-cameri/

Il Dipartimento di Stato degli Stati Uniti ha approvato l'acquisto da parte della Corea del Sud di altri 25 caccia F-35A ...

Cita

Il Dipartimento di Stato degli Stati Uniti ha approvato la vendita di 25 aerei da combattimento F-35A alla Corea del Sud per 5,06 miliardi di dollari.
La Defense Security Cooperation Agency ha annunciato mercoledì il possibile accordo (*), che potrebbe cambiare in quantità e valore del contratto durante il processo di negoziazione.

... defensenews.com ... https://www.defensenews.com/air/2023/09/14/us-state-department-approves-south-korea-to-buy-25-more-f-35a-jets/ ...

(*) ... dsca.mil ... https://www.dsca.mil/press-media/major-arms-sales/korea-f-35-aircraft ...

🇺🇸

La Spagna ha deciso di acquistare ulteriori 25 caccia Eurofighter ...

Cita

Nell’ambito del programma Halcon II, la Spagna ha ordinato ulteriori 25 velivoli Eurofighter (designati C.16 in Spagna) per sostituire gli EF-18AM/BM Hornet attualmente in uso con l’Ala 12 presso la base aerea di Madrid/Torrejón e l’Ala 15 presso la base aerea di Saragozza. 
Gli Hornet (C.15) inizieranno ad essere ritirati dal servizio a partire dal 2030.

... aviation-report.com ... https://www.aviation-report.com/programma-halcon-2-madrid-acquista-ulteriori-25-velivoli-eurofighter/ ...

Anche qui ... shownews.aviationweek.com ... https://shownews.aviationweek.com/spain-launches-second-eurofighter-acquisition-drive/content.html?utm_rid=CPEN1000001338984&utm_campaign=40124&utm_medium=email&elq2=7d57c1b76a454352af5873e825517ddd&utm_emailname=20230914_DefenseWeek_Newsletter&sp_eh=0a6efbf8999721c3eec719346dd51711953f727eec709ddf1bb86f4162a8fbd3 ...

🇪🇸

La Repubblica Ceca dà il via libera all’acquisto degli F-35 ...

... janes.com ... https://www.janes.com/defence-news/news-detail/czech-republic-gives-green-light-to-f-35-buy ...

Anche qui ... avianews.ch/post ... https://www.avianews.ch/post/la-tchéquie-sélectionne-le-f-35 ...

🇨🇿

 

F-35 ... ancora a proposito degli acquisti da parte di paesi dell'Europa Orientale ...

... defensenews.com ... https://www.defensenews.com/global/europe/2023/09/28/romania-czech-republic-advance-f-35-acquisition-plans/?utm_source=sailthru&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=dfn-dnr ...

🇷🇴 & 🇨🇿

La Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) traccia la road map dell'FA-50 monoposto ...

Cita

La Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) sta attualmente conducendo studi per migliorare le capacità dell'FA-50 per soddisfare i potenziali requisiti di esportazione e dell'Aeronautica della Repubblica di Corea (ROKAF), inclusa una modifica in tre parti che vedrebbe lo sviluppo di un FA-50 monoposto.
KAI ha dichiarato all'Airshow ADEX 2023 di Seoul che la ROKAF e un altro cliente estero non nominato si sono uniti alla Polonia nel chiedere miglioramenti alle capacità operative dell'FA-50 e che sono ora in corso studi per soddisfare tali esigenze.

... aviationweek.com ... https://aviationweek.com/defense-space/aircraft-propulsion/kai-charts-out-single-seat-fa-50-road-map ...

🇰🇷