Re: European armed forces
Another new AEW platform is appearing on the "low" end.
AEW-themed C-295 clears flight test phase
By:Craig Hoyle London - 04:35 19 Jan 2012
Airbus Military has completed initial flight test activities on an airborne early warning and control (AEW&C) derivative of its C-295 medium transport, as radar supplier Elta Systems anticipates a first sale of the developmental system.
Work on the project was revealed in May 2011, before Airbus Military announced the Israel Aerospace Industries subsidiary as its programme partner at the Paris Air Show the following month. The European manufacturer also exhibited a radome-equipped demonstrator at the event.
"We have completed the flight trials and matured the aerodynamic configuration of the radome," said Fernando Ciria, Airbus Military's head of marketing and development for intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance aircraft. This activity has indicated that a C-295 modified for the AEW&C mission could provide an on-station endurance of up to 8h, operating at a maximum altitude of between 20,000ft (6,100m) and 24,000ft, he said.
Up to six operator consoles would be installed, using Airbus Military's fully integrated tactical system mission suite, with Elta to provide its active electronically scanned array radar and related equipment.
Ciria cited the C-295's large cabin, robust design and reliability as supporting the proposed new role, and said operators could acquire other versions of the same type to meet their air transport, maritime patrol and anti-surface/anti-submarine warfare requirements.
Elta already offers AEW&C conversions of the Gulfstream G550 business jet and Ilyushin Il-76 transport, and completed deliveries of both types in 2011 under orders with respective customers the Israeli and Indian air forces. By also equipping the C-295, the company hopes to enter a new market segment, said Avishai Izhakian, deputy general manager marketing, business development and sales for its airborne systems and radars division.
"This solution can be purchased by many more countries not accessible to us with higher-performance systems," Izhakian told IQPC's AEW and Battle Management conference in London on 17 January. "The radar is currently under advanced development, and we hope to have our first customer soon," he said, adding that production deliveries could start within three to four years of a deal being signed.
© Airbus Military
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And, Oman has asked BAE about a buy of 12 Eurofighter Typhoon
Oman requests Typhoon buy from BAE
By: Craig Hoyle London - 02:05 23 Jan 2012
Oman has issued a request for proposals to BAE Systems linked to the purchase of about 12 Eurofighter Typhoons, only one month after its plan to also buy a new batch of Lockheed Martin F-16s was revealed.
In a statement issued on 23 January, the UK government said it "welcomes the government of Oman's request for a proposal from BAE Systems for the supply and support of Typhoon aircraft". The milestone represents "an important step towards the contract", it added.
The UK and Omani governments have been involved in bilateral discussions over a Typhoon sale for the past several years, with Muscat's interest now believed to be linked to the acquisition of Tranche 3 production examples.
A deal is expected to be signed later in 2012, said BAE, which added that deliveries would start three years after the order confirmation. The company has already handed over its first 24 Typhoons to Saudi Arabia under a Project Salam deal totalling 72 units.
The Royal Air Force of Oman's combat aircraft inventory includes eight F-16Cs, along with eight Sepecat Jaguars and 10 armed BAE Hawk 203s, as assessed by Flightglobal's MiliCAS database.
Oman's separate request for a second batch of 12 F-16C/Ds was outlined by the US Defense Security Cooperation Agency in December 2011. The purchase could be worth about $600 million, it said.
© BAE Systems
Another new AEW platform is appearing on the "low" end.
AEW-themed C-295 clears flight test phase
By:Craig Hoyle London - 04:35 19 Jan 2012
Airbus Military has completed initial flight test activities on an airborne early warning and control (AEW&C) derivative of its C-295 medium transport, as radar supplier Elta Systems anticipates a first sale of the developmental system.
Work on the project was revealed in May 2011, before Airbus Military announced the Israel Aerospace Industries subsidiary as its programme partner at the Paris Air Show the following month. The European manufacturer also exhibited a radome-equipped demonstrator at the event.
"We have completed the flight trials and matured the aerodynamic configuration of the radome," said Fernando Ciria, Airbus Military's head of marketing and development for intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance aircraft. This activity has indicated that a C-295 modified for the AEW&C mission could provide an on-station endurance of up to 8h, operating at a maximum altitude of between 20,000ft (6,100m) and 24,000ft, he said.
Up to six operator consoles would be installed, using Airbus Military's fully integrated tactical system mission suite, with Elta to provide its active electronically scanned array radar and related equipment.
Ciria cited the C-295's large cabin, robust design and reliability as supporting the proposed new role, and said operators could acquire other versions of the same type to meet their air transport, maritime patrol and anti-surface/anti-submarine warfare requirements.
Elta already offers AEW&C conversions of the Gulfstream G550 business jet and Ilyushin Il-76 transport, and completed deliveries of both types in 2011 under orders with respective customers the Israeli and Indian air forces. By also equipping the C-295, the company hopes to enter a new market segment, said Avishai Izhakian, deputy general manager marketing, business development and sales for its airborne systems and radars division.
"This solution can be purchased by many more countries not accessible to us with higher-performance systems," Izhakian told IQPC's AEW and Battle Management conference in London on 17 January. "The radar is currently under advanced development, and we hope to have our first customer soon," he said, adding that production deliveries could start within three to four years of a deal being signed.
© Airbus Military
======================================================================================================
And, Oman has asked BAE about a buy of 12 Eurofighter Typhoon
Oman requests Typhoon buy from BAE
By: Craig Hoyle London - 02:05 23 Jan 2012
Oman has issued a request for proposals to BAE Systems linked to the purchase of about 12 Eurofighter Typhoons, only one month after its plan to also buy a new batch of Lockheed Martin F-16s was revealed.
In a statement issued on 23 January, the UK government said it "welcomes the government of Oman's request for a proposal from BAE Systems for the supply and support of Typhoon aircraft". The milestone represents "an important step towards the contract", it added.
The UK and Omani governments have been involved in bilateral discussions over a Typhoon sale for the past several years, with Muscat's interest now believed to be linked to the acquisition of Tranche 3 production examples.
A deal is expected to be signed later in 2012, said BAE, which added that deliveries would start three years after the order confirmation. The company has already handed over its first 24 Typhoons to Saudi Arabia under a Project Salam deal totalling 72 units.
The Royal Air Force of Oman's combat aircraft inventory includes eight F-16Cs, along with eight Sepecat Jaguars and 10 armed BAE Hawk 203s, as assessed by Flightglobal's MiliCAS database.
Oman's separate request for a second batch of 12 F-16C/Ds was outlined by the US Defense Security Cooperation Agency in December 2011. The purchase could be worth about $600 million, it said.
© BAE Systems
