03 Desember 2011

L-39 training aircraft of the Vietnam People Air Force (photo : Jetphotos)

Aero Vodochody successfully established two new business deals with major international customers.

In September 2011, Aero Vodochody successfully established two new business deals with major international customers, Ministry of defence of Slovak Republic and Vietnam New Technological Appliance One Member Co., Ltd. Both contracts show a strong position of Aero Vodochody as a reliable and high qualified business and engineering partner.

The treaty with New Technological Appliance One Member Co., Ltd. was signed in the first half of September as a result of eight months of negotiations. As a part of it, officials of Vietnamese Ministry of defence and war aircraft visited Aero Vodochody in June 2011. Supply of more than three hundred spare parts for L-39 jet aircraft starts in November 2011. The agreement also contains a trip of engineers of Aero Vodochody who will accomplish an inspection and repairs necessary to extend working life of two L-39C aircrafts, install new monitoring system FAU-39 and train employees of the Vietnamese company.

The contract with Slovak Ministry of Defence was closed in the second half of September. Aero Vodochody will extend working life of airframe of L-39ZA aircrafts for Slovak army.

Both contracts renew relations with traditional business partners and confirm interest of Aero Vodochody for effective cooperation with all countries and companies operating L-39 aircrafts. This way, Aero fulfils its role of original producer who is the most qualified for maintenance and development support.

(Aero Vodochody)

30 November 2011

RAAF BAE Hawk 127 trainer aircraft (photo : Airliners)

Australia has approved the first phase of its lead-in fighter capability assurance programme AIR 5438, establishing a study into potential mid-life upgrades for the Royal Australian Air Force BAE Hawk 127 trainer aircraft.

"The Government has provided first pass approval for Phase 1A of the Lead-In Fighter Capability Assurance Program," said minister for defence materiel Jason Clare.

"The Government has approved the funding of A$43 million ($42.7 million) for Defence to develop options and conduct risk mitigation activities prior to Government approval at second pass, which is presently scheduled for 2013-14," Clare added.

The total cost of AIR 5438 is estimated at A$100-300 million. Government approval may be given in 2013-14.

According to the AIR 5438 project overview, the programme will provide a mid-life upgrade to the Hawk to meet the training needs that are associated with the current aircraft, such as the Boeing F/A-18 A/B Hornet and F/A-18 F Super Hornet, and the future Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II.

"The project will investigate sustainability modifications required to address obsolescence, maintainability and reliability issues, and examine a range of capability enhancement options," the overview showed.

"The precise nature and composition of the ensuing acquisition phase will be determined by the capability definition study to be conducted," it added.

(FlightGlobal)

19 September 2011

Grob G120TP elementary and basic trainer (photo : Milborne One)

Grob Aircraft has secured a launch customer for its G120TP design, with Indonesia's air force to operate the type as an elementary and basic trainer.

Announcing its selection on 19 September, Grob said the turboprop-powered G120TP had been selected "in the face of fierce competition from the Finmeccanica [Alenia Aermacchi] SF-260TP and the Pacific Aerospace CT-4".

Deliveries will commence in 2012, with the company also providing a computer-based ground training system, mission briefing and debriefing equipment, embedded cockpit simulation and a full package of maintenance support. The deal is likely to be for around 18 aircraft, with Grob expecting a contract signature to occur within the next few weeks.

"Asia is seen by Grob as a key region, with the potential for several other air forces to follow the example set by Indonesia," the company said. It is also offering the G120TP to several other nations, including the UK.

Indonesia also will begin fielding a new fleet of eight Embraer EMB-314 Super Tucanos from next year, following the signature of a contract in June 2011.

The Brazilian-built turboprops will be used for tasks including light attack, surveillance, air-to-air interception and counter-insurgency.

(FlightGlobal)

07 Juli 2011

RAAF's Hawk 127 Lead-In Fighter Trainer (photo : redbubble)

Minister for Defence Materiel Jason Clare today announced a two-year extension of the contract with BAE Systems Australia to provide support to the Royal Australian Air Force’s Lead-In-Fighter Hawk aircraft.

The contract is worth $150 million and includes maintenance, engineering and logistic support services to the 33 Lead-In-Fighter Hawk aircraft, two training simulators and a computer-based instruction system.

Through the Strategic Reform Program, Defence has worked with BAE Systems to deliver savings in excess of 10 per cent over the two year extension period.

This was achieved by putting in place a revised maintenance strategy and improvements to the overhaul program for the aircraft.

The Hawks are used to provide introductory fast jet training for aircrew selected to become pilots for the Classic Hornet, Super Hornet and later this decade, the Joint Strike Fighter.

They are based at RAAF Williamtown near Newcastle and RAAF Pearce near Perth.

Across the two sites, BAE Systems employs 180 people to support the aircraft – 130 at RAAF Williamtown and 50 at RAAF Pearce.

Mr Clare said that BAE Systems Australia had been providing support to the aircraft since they came into service in 2000.

“BAE Systems Australia has delivered terrific service to date and the team providing support for this important training system should be congratulated on their efforts,” Mr Clare said.

“This is an important capability for the Air Force – training our future pilots to fly Hornets and eventually the Joint Strike Fighter.

“It’s important that the aircraft and the other training systems are well-supported and maintained.”

(Australian DoD)

02 Juli 2011

T-50 Golden Eagle (photo : Airplane Pictures)

Spratlys arms race heats up; AFP to buy six fighter jets

THE military plans to acquire six jet fighters for interdiction missions against intruders into Philippine waters and air space, Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin said Friday.

“We’re giving so much priority to our internal security operations, but lately the equation has shifted because we realize we’ve also to assess our external defense capability,” Gazmin told reporters at the sidelines of the Air Force’s 64th anniversary celebrations.

Armed Forces chief Gen. Eduardo Oban Jr. said senior military officials had recommended an initial six multi-role planes to be acquired within the term of President Benigno Aquino III.

He said the Air Force was looking at either Korea’s TA-50 Golden Eagle or Italy’s M-346, and depending on their arms and in-flight instrumentation would cost about P1 billion each.

The Air Force retired its last seven F5 fighter jets in 2005 after having been in service for 40 years.

Foreign Secretary Albert del Rosario, meanwhile, said President Aquino’s planned visit to China did not mean the Philippines was backing down from its assertions Chinese forces had been intruding on Philippine waters.

The Philippines claims that Chinese forces intruded at least nine times into Manila-claimed areas in the Spratly Islands since February, allegations that sparked an exchange of diplomatic protests and verbal jabs. Mr. Aquino has strongly criticized China, saying two weeks ago that his country would not be bullied by China in the disputed region.

M-346 Master (photo : AleniaAermacchi)

The presidential trip would likely take place in late August or early September, Del Rosario said.



The Spratlys, a chain of barren, largely uninhabited islands, reefs and banks in the South China Sea, are claimed wholly by China, Taiwan and Vietnam and partly by the Philippines, Malaysia and Brunei. The islands are believed to be atop vast oil and gas deposits.



Chinese Ambassador Liu Jianchao has denied his government committed any intrusions, but acknowledged that Chinese vessels were exercising Beijing’s sovereign rights in one incident at the Reed Bank near the Spratlys. Philippine officials complained the Chinese vessels harassed a local oil exploration ship into leaving the Reed Bank in March.



Just before he traveled last week to Washington, Del Rosario said he was told that the military was verifying another foreign intrusion into the Spratlys area.



Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton gave strong assurances that the US was committed to the defense of the Philippines, and would provide affordable weaponry amid mounting tensions in the Spratlys, Del Rosario said.



He said he separately gave US defense officials a list of equipment the Philippines needed to improve its capability to monitor foreign intrusions in its territorial waters near the Spratlys.



Clinton assured del Rosario that the US would honor its 1951 Mutual Defense Treaty with the Philippines that calls on each country to help defend the other against an external attack by an aggressor in their territories or in the Pacific region, he said.



Del Rosario said he told US officials that if the Philippines received defense equipment, “we become a stronger ally for you.”



(Manila Standard Today)

27 Juni 2011

M-346 fighter trainer aircraft (photo : FlightGlobal)

Alenia Aermacchi: finalised contracts with ST Aerospace worth about EUR 170 million for the logistic support of the fleet of 12

Alenia Aermacchi – a company of Finmeccanica’s Aeronautics Sector led by Alenia Aeronautica – has finalised with ST Aerospace the logistics support contracts for the 12 M-346 trainers sold at the end of September 2010 in the context of the Fighter Wings Course programme of the Republic of Singapore Air Force.

The two contracts are expected to generate total sales in the range of EUR 170 million.

The first contract (Supply Chain Management) envisages the joint management of the M-346 suppliers by Alenia Aermacchi and ST Aerospace (after-sales support, including spare parts provisioning, repair and overhaul services) with sharing of risks, sales and profits between the two Companies.

The other contract (Operations & Support) concerns instead the supply by Alenia Aermacchi of engineering support, programme/contract management and field support services.

Alenia Aeronautica’s CEO and Responsible for Finmeccanica’s Aeronautics Sector, Mr. Giuseppe Giordo, has commented: “The two contracts on the logistics support of the 12 M-346 for Singapore confirm the success of the high-technology Italian industry and the primacy at international level of this aircraft and of its integrated training system. Once again we are particularly proud for the positive relationship with both the Republic of Singapore Air Force, known to be one of the most sophisticated Air Forces in the world, and our industrial counterpart, ST Aerospace.”

(AleniaAermacchi)

06 Juni 2011

RAAF's PC-9A in a initial color scheme (photo : Airliners)

Update on PC-9A aircraft incident

The ongoing investigation into the RAAF PC-9/A crash at RAAF Base East Sale has revealed the crash was caused by loss of engine power as a result of the failure of a component in the aircraft’s fuel system.

The Aviation Accident Investigation Team (AAIT) will continue to analyse the aircraft to confirm there were no other factors that contributed to the power loss.

Air Force will now work with its contracted maintenance organisations, and engine manufacturer Pratt & Whitney, to establish the cause of the component failure.

This will inform any further engineering and maintenance work that may be required to the component. Once this is completed, and no other factors are found by the AAIT, the PC-9/A will be cleared to return to flying operations.

Both Squadron Leader Collenette and Flight Lieutenant Andrews have now been released from hospital. Air Force continues to wish them well for their ongoing recovery.

(Australian DoD)

27 Mei 2011

T-50 in production line (photo : KDN)

Indonesia orders 16 T-50 trainers

Indonesia has placed a $400 million order for 16 Korea Aerospace Industries T-50 Golden Eagle advanced jet trainers, the type's first export sale.

The Indonesian Defense Ministry signed the deal on Wednesday, said Enes Park, executive vice president of KAI. The contract stipulates that the aircraft must be delivered 18 months after the signing of a loan agreement between the South Korean and Indonesian governments.

The announcement follows a 12 April letter the Indonesian government sent to KAI designating the South Korean firm as the preferred bidder to replace Indonesia's BAE Systems Hawk 53s. The letter all but sealed the fate of the T-50's rivals in the competition, the Aero Vodochody L-159 and Yakovlev Yak-130.

The 16 General Electric F404-powered aircraft will be produced at the KAI facilities in Sacheon, South Korea. They will shipped to Indonesia partially disassembled, where Indonesia state aircraft manufacturer PT Dirgantara Indonesia/Indonesian Aerospace (IAe) will reassemble them.

"The aircraft is certainly capable of being ferried, but transporting them meets Indonesian industrial regulations," says Park. "(Re-assembling) the aircraft will help them improve their capabilities."
Despite the best efforts of KAI and the South Korean government, theT-50 lost trainer competitions in both the United Arab Emirates and Singapore to the Alenia Aermacchi M-346.

F/A-50 combat variant (photo : vehibase)

The T-50 will again square off against its rival in Israel and the USA. In 2012, the Israeli Air Force will decide between the T-50 and M-346 to replaces its Douglas A-4 Skyhawk trainers. In early May, Alenia Aermacchi general manager Alessandra Franzoni said America's T-X competition to replace the 1960s era Northrop T-38C will be a two horse race between the T-50 and M-346.

Park adds that there could be a possibility of selling Indonesia the T-50's combat variant, the F/A-50. "While there have been no concrete discussions on this, there is a distinct possibility of this in the future."

Indonesia is also still involved in South Korea's proposed KF-X programme, says Park. At the Farnborough air show in 2010, South Korea signed a memorandum of understanding with Indonesia, with the latter to potentially contribute up to 20% of the KF-X development costs. Indonesia is currently looking at how it might participate in the project.

The T-50 buy is just the latest example of Jakarta's efforts to upgrade the nation's air force. In November 2010, it purchased eight Embraer EMB-314 Super Tucano light attack aircraft to replace Vietnam War-era Rockwell OV-10 Broncos. In January 2011 it awarded Arinc Engineering Services a $66.7 million contract to modernise five Lockheed Martin C-130Bs.

Indonesia is also considering upgrading its 10 Lockheed Martin F-16A/B fighters. Media reports have said Jakarta will buy 24 ex-US Air Force F-16s, but this has not been officially announced by either Washington or Jakarta.

(Flight Global)

26 Mei 2011

T-50 in production line (photo : KDN)

Korea inks trainer jet deal with Indonesia

Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) signed a contract Wednesday to export its T-50 trainer jets to Indonesia, an official of the state-run aircraft maker said.

“Korea has signed a $400 million deal to export 16 T-50s,” Lee Kyung-ho, a spokesman of KAI said, noting that this is the first time for the country to export supersonic jets.

He said KAI will deliver 16 T-50 Golden Eagle supersonic trainer jets by 2013.

On April 12, Indonesia selected KAI as the preferred bidder for its trainer jet program over Russian’s Yakovlev Yak-130 and the Czech Republic’s Aero Vodochody L-159, the two other finalists in the competition.

Italy’s M-346, which defeated the T-50 in trainer jet acquisition deals in the United Arab Emirates in 2009 and Singapore in 2010, was disqualified from the competition in the first round of assessments in May last year.

The export of the T-50 was briefly thrown into question when Korean intelligence officials allegedly broke into the hotel room of a visiting Indonesian delegation in Seoul on Feb. 16.

Observers say that the deal will have positive effects on the country's efforts to export the aircraft to other nations, including Israel, the United States, Poland, India and the United Arab Emirates.

They say the strategic importance and close bilateral ties between Korea and Indonesia played a role in the decision-making process.

Indonesia and Korea are working together to jointly develop a new fighter.

Korea first unveiled the T-50 in 2005, becoming the world’s 12th supersonic jet producer.

(Korea Times)

18 Mei 2011

A file image of a RAAF PC-9 at East Sale.(photo : Australian Aviation)

The RAAF has grounded its fleet of Pilatus PC-9/A turboprop trainers after one crashed today at RAAF East Sale after a “suspected engine failure” during a routine training flight.

The accident, which occurred at around 3.15pm, saw the two crew – a QFI and instructor trainee from Central Flying School – eject safely “about 1 kilometre short of a runway, on the edge of the base”.

Base emergency personnel responded, with medics assessing the pilots as being in a stable condition before they were transferred to hospital where there are being kept for an overnight stay for X-rays and precautionary observation.

“As a precaution, all RAAF PC-9/A flying operations have been temporarily suspended, while the cause of the incident is fully investigated,” says a Defence Department statement.

“An Aviation Accident Investigation Team will be onsite at RAAF Base East Sale on Thursday 19 May to begin the investigation.”

This is the second engine incident and subsequent grounding to afflict the RAAF PC-9 fleet this year, after an engine fire on a 2FTS PC-9 taking off from RAAF Pearce in

February.

(Australian Aviation)

05 Mei 2011

S-211 trainer jets of PAF (photo : Sandy-Timawa)

MANILA, Philippines - The military is studying the possible phase out of S-211 trainer jets in its inventory following last Thursday’s crash of a similar type of aircraft in Bataan during a training flight, leading to the death of the two pilots.

“They are studying that, that’s why they’ve grounded all (S-211s)…The Air Force is conducting that (study) itself,” AFP spokesman Commodore Miguel Jose Rodriguez told reporters.

The Air Force leadership grounded 2 remaining S-211 trainer planes that are operational, pending a thorough investigation on last week’s incident at the waters of Bagac town last Thursday afternoon.

It was the second crash involving S-211 planes in less than a year.

Officials said the S-211 was on a proficiency training flight when it crashed, resulting in the death of the two pilots, Maj. Ephraim Soyum and Capt. Raymond de Leon. Soyum is the valedictorian of the Philippine Military Academy class of 1997.

Rodriguez said the Air Force would be making recommendations to the AFP Weapons Modernization Board what type of aircraft should be procured under their modernization program in the event the S-211s will be phased out.

“They are studying that (phase out of the S-211s), what are the risks. If they thing that the risk is high, then we have to think of something,” he said.

(PhilStar)

03 Mei 2011

CT-4B basif flying training aircraft (photo : Nathan Long)

BAE Systems Australia Limited has been awarded a six-year contract to provide Interim Basic Flying Training to the ADF until Project AIR 5428 delivers a new pilot training system for the ADF.

The total value of this contract is $86.6m. The contract was awarded after a comprehensive tender process.

Basic Flying Training is an essential stepping stone for the future capability of Australia’s air power.
Under the contract, BAE Systems will continue to provide basic flying training at Tamworth using the CT-4B Airtrainer aircraft, upgraded to meet contemporary crashworthiness requirements.

Instrument panel of the CT-4B (photo : Colin Hunter)

Commencing in January 2012, the six-year contract includes annual extension options for Defence, for up to a further six years.

Basic Flying Training plays an important role in providing a cost-effective training solution for initial flying training for the ADF. Once personnel graduate from this course, Army personnel continue on to helicopter training at Oakey Army Aviation Airfield in Queensland; Navy and Air Force personnel continue to Advanced Flying Training at RAAF Base Pearce outside Perth.

Project AIR5428 is expected to deliver a new pilot training system in the 2015-17 timeframe.

(Australian DoD)

30 April 2011

PAF S-211 training aircraft (photo : Boomstick54)

CLARK FREEPORT, Philippines – The Philippine Air Force (PAF) yesterday grounded all five of its remaining operational S-211 training jets following the crash that killed two officers in Bagac, Bataan on Thursday.

The ill-fated aircraft was one of the six S-211 trainer jets that the were operational from the total of 25 such aircraft the PAF purchased since the 1990s.

Of the total number, 15 were locally assembled by the Philippine Aerospace Development Corp. (Aerospace) based here.

PAF records showed that other accidents involving S-211 jets have occurred in recent years.

In July last year, another such aircraft belonging to the Air Defense Wing’s 7th Tactical Fighter Squadron based here also crashed in Concepcion, Tarlac, but its pilot and co-pilot were able to eject safely.

In 2002, another S-211 jet of the PAF crashed due to mechanical failure, killing five people, including the pilot and his co-pilot, in Barangay Garcia in Cabanatuan City where 15 houses were also destroyed. The aircraft was reported to be on proficiency flight.

Air Force spokesman Lt. Col. Miguel Okol said the PAF has already extended condolences to the families of Capt. Raymond de Leon and Maj. Ephraim Suyom who died in the crash last Thursday.

Their trainer jet crashed off the shores of Stella Maris resort in Barangay Banawang in Bagac, Bataan.

The body of Suyom was retrieved by local police and village folk soon after the crash, while the remains of De Leon were retrieved by Coast Guard divers later in the evening.

Bataan provincial police director Senior Superintendent Arnold Gunnacao said the Scene of the Crime Operations (SOCO) would help in the identification of the two bodies.

He said the bodies of the two victims were shattered due to the impact of the explosion.

The plane took off from here at about 2:15 p.m. and subsequently lost contact with air traffic controllers. The pilots were based at Basa Air Base in Floridablanca, Pampanga.

Okol described De Leon as “a combat ready pilot,” adding that Suyom was an instructor pilot for S-211 aircraft.

“PAF chief Lt. Gen. Oscar Rabena has ensured that a thorough investigation of the crash will take place,” Okol said.

He also said Rabena has vowed “to look after the families left behind by the fighter pilots.”

Okol said the remaining five other still functioning S-211 trainer jets of the Air Force would remain grounded until the cause of last Thursday’s accident is known.

He said the aircraft has been with the PAF since 1991.

(PhilStar)

14 April 2011

KAI T-50 Golden Eagle (photo : Yunjin Lee)

SEOUL - Indonesia wants South Korea to buy four more of its locally built CN-235 maritime patrol aircraft in an offset barter deal over Indonesia's purchase of 16 T-50 trainer jets, according to government and industry sources here.

On April 12, the Seoul government announced that it won exclusive rights to negotiate the sale of the T-50 Golden Eagle, co-developed by Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) and Lockheed Martin of the United States, to Indonesia. The T-50 had competed with Russia's Yak-130 and the Czech-built L-159B.

Jakarta notified Seoul of a plan to "treat KAI as the de facto preferred bidder" for its advanced trainer acquisition contest, according to a spokesperson for South Korea's presidential office Blue House.

"Both governments agreed in principle to sign a memorandum of understanding on the sale of the T-50 within the next nine months," he said.

In a news conference at the Ministry of National Defense, KAI Chief Executive Officer Kim Hong-kyung said the T-50 would be sold "much cheaper" than its original price tag of $20 million to $25 million.

"We asked our suppliers to lower the costs of manufacturing T-50 spare parts, and based on those efforts, we offered a per-unit price far lower than standard price," Kim said. He hinted that the total value of the trainer deal would be lower than the estimated $400 million, which is based on a per-unit price tag of $25 million.

"The final value of the trainer deal could be decided after negotiations," said Kim, expressing hope to conclude a final agreement within two months.

"Through negotiations, both sides will discuss a wide range of issues, such as the price, delivery timing, ground-based training equipment and systems, integrated logistics support and replacement parts," Kim noted.

Once a final contract is signed, the first delivery of T-50s will be made in 2013, he added.

The T-50 was defeated in competitions in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Singapore, where both countries selected Italy's M-346 trainer.

The single-engine T-50 features digital flight controls and a modern, ground-based training system. It is designed to have the maneuverability, endurance and systems to prepare pilots to fly next-generation fighters, such as the Eurofighter Typhoon, the F-22 Raptor, the Rafale and the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter. The jet has a top speed of Mach 1.4 and an operational range of 1,851 kilometers.

Other potential customers include the United States, Israel, Greece and Poland.

According to industry sources, Jakarta requested that Seoul purchase four CN-235 aircraft built by PT Dirgantara Indonesia (PT DI) in return for buying T-50s. The per-unit price of the CN-235 is known to be around $25 million. Seoul purchased four of the aircraft in 2008.

Indonesia also asked South Korea to write off $10 million in penalties over the former's delayed delivery of CN-235 planes under the 2008 deal that was worth $100 million. The first batch of two of the four planes had been scheduled to be delivered to the Korea Coast Guard in December and the remainder in April.

PT DI sent a document to the Coast Guard recently, saying delivery would be delayed for production problems, Coast Guard spokesman Koh Jae-young said.

In addition, Indonesia demands South Korea pay for the costs of integrated logistics support, according to sources.

"Indonesia is expected to offer to locally produce some of the 16 T-50s to be ordered, should a contract be signed," a source said. "How many aircraft Indonesia wants to produce locally could be a contentious issue during negotiations."

Seoul and Jakarta had a similar barter trade deal in 2001 when South Korea bought eight CN-235 transport planes in return for selling 12 KT-1 Woongbi basic trainers.

The CN-235 is a medium-range twin-turboprop airplane, jointly developed by Spain's CASA and PT DI, formerly known as IPTN. The plane is used for VIP transport, maritime patrols, airlifts and troop carrying.

South Korea has 20 CN-235s, 12 built in Spain and eight in Indonesia.

In a summit last December, President Lee Myung-bak and his Indonesian counterpart, Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, agreed to jointly manufacture tanks, submarines and fighter jets.

(Defense News)

06 April 2011

KAI T-50 Golden Eagle (photo : KAI)

Jakarta asks Seoul to buy more planes, accept penalty write-offs

Indonesia has asked South Korea to write off $20 million in penalties over the former’s delayed delivery of CN-235 transport aircraft in return for buying the T-50 Golden Eagle supersonic trainer jet, which can also be used as a light attack plane, according to government and industry sources Tuesday.

Jakarta also requested Seoul purchase four more CN-235s under a barter deal, the sources said.

The Seoul government is reviewing the offer positively as it has fought an uphill battle to gain the first exports of the jet following back-to-back defeats in trainer contests in the United Arab Emirates and Singapore.

The per-unit price of the CN-235 plane, built by the state-owned PT Dirgantara Indonesia (PT DI), is $25 million, similar to that of the T-50, jointly developed by Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) and Lockheed Martin of the United States. The T-50’s price is presumed to be around $20-$25 million.

Under the envisaged new deal, if approved, the value of the original $400 million contract to sell 16 T-50s to Indonesia could be lowered to less than $280 million.

The value could be further reduced because KAI is obliged to share profits with Lockheed, which has technology export license over the T-50.

“Such a trade deal would certainly be disadvantageous for South Korea, but there are very few options since Seoul has been pressed to get the first overseas sale of the trainer jets,” an informed government source told The Korea Times on condition of anonymity.

Jakarta’s calm response to a break-in at an Indonesian delegate’s hotel room here in February was seen as an effort to increase its negotiating leverage over the deal, he said.

Last week, a Cheong Wa Dae official told reporters that Indonesia would soon announce the KAI-Lockheed team as the preferred bidder in its trainer acquisition program.

The presidential secretary said Indonesia’s Defense Ministry would send a letter confirming its selection of the T-50 as the preferred model as early as this week. The T-50 is competing with Russia’s Yak-130 and the Czech-built L-159B.

But Indonesia has neither confirmed nor denied its selection of a successful bidder.

T-50 cutaway (image : Flight International)

South Korea ordered four CN-235 aircraft for maritime patrol operations in December 2008. Under the $100 million contract, PT DI was to deliver the aircraft by the end of 2010.

But none have been received by the Korea Coast Guard (KCG) yet. “The Indonesian firm recently sent a document to us, saying the delivery will be delayed,” said Koh Jae-young at the KCG’s public affairs office. “Two aircraft will be delivered in May and the remainder are to be delivered by August.”

Indonesian authorities cited production line problems for the delay, he said.

In consultation with the Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA), the KCG is in negotiation with PT DI for compensation over the delay. The amount of compensation is estimated at around $20 million, according to KCG and DAPA officials.

“At the request of the KCG, we’re reviewing legal procedures related to Indonesian compensation for the delayed delivery of CN-235s,” Maj. Choi Jong-oh at DAPA’s public relations office said, declining to elaborate.

The CN-235 is a medium-range twin turboprop airplane, jointly developed by Spain’s CASA and PT DI, formerly known as IPTN. The plane is used for VIP transport, maritime patrols, airlifts, and troop carrying.

South Korea has 20 CN-235s, 12 built in Spain and eight in Indonesia. The latest order was for a maritime patrol aircraft modified from the CN-235-110 equipped with advanced radar detection and thermal imaging systems.

Indonesia is a key arms partner of South Korea. Seoul has sold KT-1 Woongbi basic trainer jets and hundreds of military vehicles to Indonesia.

In a summit last December, President Lee Myung-bak and his Indonesian counterpart Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono agreed on efforts to jointly manufacture tanks, submarines and fighter jets.

(Korea Times)

03 Maret 2011

Dynamic testing of a CT-4 airframe (photo : Australian Aviation)

BAE’s Smashing Success

BAE Systems has announced the successful completion of testing of modifications it has developed for the CT-4B Airtrainers it operates for the ADF’s Basic Flying Training School (BFTS) to allow them to meet contemporary civil certification crashworthy standards.

The modifications were a key element in BAE’s bid for the ADF’s Interim Basic Flying Training contract to provide flight screening and initial pilot training until a new Pilot Training System is introduced under the Air 5428 project later this decade.

“BAE Systems has understood the requirements of the ADF Airworthiness Authority and delivered a set of modifications that will bring the CT-4B aircraft to the contemporary standard,” said John Quaife, general manager aviation solutions.

“I am pleased that we will now be able to provide an improved standard of crash protection to the men and women of the ADF and BAE Systems instructors who fly these aircraft.”

CT4B Airtrainers basic flying training aircraft (photo : corsair67)

The modifications include a new seat design that absorbs greater dynamic loads in a crash situation, BAE Systems says. They were developed in partnership with Aeronautical Engineers Australia (AEA), with dynamic testing of the new seat taking place at the Autoliv Australia Test Centre in Victoria in late February.

The complex test program involved several test runs of a modified CT-4B fuselage along a test track, occupied by a heavily instrumented Hybrid-III anthropometric test dummy, to demonstrate that the loads sustained by an occupant in a simulated crash met the latest regulatory requirements.
The successful completion of the testing will now see BAE Systems and AEA work with the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) to achieve a supplemental type certificate for the CT-4B to meet FAR Part 23 crash protection requirements.

(Australian Aviation)

21 Februari 2011

K2 Black Panther main battle tank (photo : Military Today)

NIS Behind Break-In at Indonesian Delegation

Three intruders who broke into the room of Indonesian presidential envoys at Seoul's Lotte Hotel on the morning of Feb. 16 were agents from the National Intelligence Service, it has emerged. A high-ranking government official said the NIS "tried to find out the negotiation strategy of the Indonesian delegation in pursuit of the national interest. It was an unintended consequence that they were caught."

Soon after some 50 Indonesian officials including Indonesia's Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Hatta Rajasa left for Cheong Wa Dae to meet President Lee Myung-bak, two men and a women broke into the room on the 19th floor of the Lotte Hotel, but they were surprised by one of the Indonesian officials while they were looking into laptops there and fled. It is uncertain whether the agents copied data from the laptop.

T-50 Golden Eagle, the supersonic training aircraft (photo : Lockheed Martin)

The NIS agents were apparently desperate to obtain Indonesia's negotiation strategy for the purchase of Korea's T-50 Golden Eagle supersonic trainer jet, K2 Black Panther main battle tank, and portable surface-to-air missile. Korea is in fierce competition with Russia's Yak-130 trainer jet.
The government has been working hard to win an export deal after negotiations with the United Arab Emirates and Singapore faltered. One T-50 is priced at US$25 million, and the government aims to export 1,000 by 2030.

LIG Nex1 Chiron manpads surface to air missile (photo : Omniae)

A government official said, "It seems that NIS took way too much risk due to this obsession with the export of the T-50." An intelligence official claimed it is "an open secret" that intelligence agencies of every country are engaged in a highly sophisticated battle for intelligence. "After the intrusion was reported in the media, the NIS exerted a great deal of effort through many channels to smooth over the situation," he added.

Police said earlier that due to the low resolution of the CCTV at the Lotte Hotel, they were unable to identify the intruders.

(Chosun)

14 Februari 2011

RAAF's Hawk 127 A27-30 (photo : Australian DoD)

The RAAF has begun trialling a new camouflage pattern for one of its Hawk 127 lead-in fighters, in a bid to reduce the risk of mid-air collision by increasing aircraft visibility.

Air Force News’ FLTLT Skye Smith reports that HQ 78WG’s decision to go with a

darker, two-tone gloss paint scheme for the Hawk (A27-30) arose out of an “assessment of operations risk” during operations out of RAAF Pearce last year. Though the aircraft’s paint scheme has yet to be formally assessed, CO 76SQN WGCDR Chris Hake told Air Force News that overall visibility was improved against the Hawk’s usual operational backdrop. “The existing Hawk paint colour uses the same paint colours as the F/A-18; however, the Hawk is much smaller than the Hornet and it’s safe to say that the grey camouflage is very effective,” WGCDR Hake said.

“If the trial paint scheme shows that we have met the requirement to increase the visibility of the Hawk then Air Force may choose to repaint the fleet in the new scheme, starting with the Pearce based Hawks.”

RAAF's hawk 127 A27-30 (photo : Jetphotos : Darren Mottram)

WGCDR Hake said feedback from both airborne and ground based observers had so far been positive, with A27-30’s darker colours contrasting well against a blue sky background, far better than with the Hawk’s existing scheme. Similar camouflage trials have been conducted by other countries, such as Canada’s NATO Flying Training Centre painting its Hawks in an all-over gloss deep blue, aimed at increasing visibility in snowy weather conditions.

The repainted Hawk will remain at RAAF Williamtown before travelling to Avalon’s Australian International Airshow in March as a static display. From there, it will relocate to RAAF Pearce for normal training operations with 79SQN.

(Australian Aviation)

11 Februari 2011

The RAAF is considering purchasing up to six Hawker Beechcraft AT-6 light-attack aircraft that would be used for training joint terminal attack controllers. (photo : Airforce Technology)

According to industry officials quoted in Inside the Air Force, the Royal Australian Air Force is considering purchasing as many as six Hawker Beechcraft AT-6 light-attack aircraft that would be used for training joint terminal attack controllers (JTACs) responsible for calling in air strikes.

The RAAF currently uses four aircraft at its Forward Air Control Development Unit; however, there is talk of the service acquiring between four and six replacement aircraft, according to Jim Maslowski, Hawker Beechcraft’s president of US and international government business.

“They have a dire need to be able to qualify their JTACs,” Derek Hess, the company’s director of light attack, said during a February 1 telephone interview.

“You can certainly do that more affordably with an AT-6 than you can with one of their Hornets, or their Super Hornets or an F-35 down the road.

The AT-6 is fully equipped with six weapons / stores locations and can be armed with a variety of weapons including guided missiles, laser / GPS-guided bombs and 2.75in rocket pods. (photo : Airforce Technology)

That’s one instance where having common digital signatures with existing platforms, in our case like the A-10 and F-16, make that really a seamless way of doing business.”

The company has also pitched the baseline T-6 trainer as part of the RAAF’s Air 5428 program, an effort to acquire new trainer aircraft.

Raytheon Australia is the prime contractor and has teamed with BAE Systems Australia.
The companies expect the RAAF to release a request for tender later in 2011.

“The AT-6 piece would fit very nicely because if they pick the T-6 [for the training replacement], then you have a common inventory,” Maslowski said.

In addition to Australia, there has been international interest in the aircraft, according to Maslowski.
“We’re in conversation with Australia and there is interest in...other nations as well,” he said, declining to name the countries.

(Australian Defence)