Singapore Trainer Candidates Get in Line
19 July, 2008: FARNBOROUGH, England - Following the shortlisting of two platforms in Singapore's jet trainer contest, would-be prime contractors now have about six weeks to reveal their teams, one of the contestants said at the Farnborough Airshow.
The T-50, built by South Korea's KAI and Lockheed Martin, and the M-346, built by Italy's Aermacchi, are set to battle it out to become Singapore's advanced trainer after the BAE Systems Hawk was rejected this month.
"Within about 1½ months, potential primes must declare their teams," said Aermacchi CEO Carmelo Cosentino. "Then Singapore will give the rules for the contest, requiring proposals in response, possibly by October."
Ten potential primes who have reportedly previously registered with Singapore are now eligible to propose teams, including the likes of Aermacchi, ST Engineering and Lockheed Martin.
Boeing, which has recently teamed with Aermacchi to market the M-346 and could join Aermacchi in a Singapore bid, is not pre-registered as a potential prime. During an airshow press conference, Cosentino said that discussions were underway that could see Singapore's ST Engineering joining Boeing and Aermacchi in a "formidable team."
Cosentino said the rules of the contest set to be published by Singapore could resemble private financing initiatives set up elsewhere.
"We do not know yet, but that could mean a 20-year deal where we give a price per flight-hour over that period which includes the customer buying the aircraft," he said.
Aermacchi brought its first pre-series version of the M-346 to Farnborough, which boasts a weight reduction of 700 kilograms from prototypes, thanks to new landing gear, the different spacing of wing spars and fuselage frames, as well as the greater use of composite and titanium parts. The aircraft made its first official flight July 8.
The firm is now awaiting a first contract from the Italian Air Force for 15 aircraft and expects to be able to build 18 to 24 aircraft a year if orders build up. Cosentino said that Boeing might now take a role in the M-346 team shortlisted in a trainer contest in the United Arab Emirates.
Twenty-five T-50 aircraft have already been delivered to South Korea, the launch customer, part of a planned order of 72 aircraft. Also, Lockheed Martin officials said at the Farnborough Airshow that a third class of student pilots has now graduated. Lockheed Martin and KAI are now eyeing the possibility of supplying 60 light-attack versions of the aircraft to the Korean Air Force, while in Europe, Poland and Greece are being targeted as potential customers for the trainer.
Saturday, July 19, 2008
Singapore Trainer Candidates Get in Line
Singapore Trainer Candidates Get in Line
19 July, 2008: FARNBOROUGH, England - Following the shortlisting of two platforms in Singapore's jet trainer contest, would-be prime contractors now have about six weeks to reveal their teams, one of the contestants said at the Farnborough Airshow.
The T-50, built by South Korea's KAI and Lockheed Martin, and the M-346, built by Italy's Aermacchi, are set to battle it out to become Singapore's advanced trainer after the BAE Systems Hawk was rejected this month.
"Within about 1½ months, potential primes must declare their teams," said Aermacchi CEO Carmelo Cosentino. "Then Singapore will give the rules for the contest, requiring proposals in response, possibly by October."
Ten potential primes who have reportedly previously registered with Singapore are now eligible to propose teams, including the likes of Aermacchi, ST Engineering and Lockheed Martin.
Boeing, which has recently teamed with Aermacchi to market the M-346 and could join Aermacchi in a Singapore bid, is not pre-registered as a potential prime. During an airshow press conference, Cosentino said that discussions were underway that could see Singapore's ST Engineering joining Boeing and Aermacchi in a "formidable team."
Cosentino said the rules of the contest set to be published by Singapore could resemble private financing initiatives set up elsewhere.
"We do not know yet, but that could mean a 20-year deal where we give a price per flight-hour over that period which includes the customer buying the aircraft," he said.
Aermacchi brought its first pre-series version of the M-346 to Farnborough, which boasts a weight reduction of 700 kilograms from prototypes, thanks to new landing gear, the different spacing of wing spars and fuselage frames, as well as the greater use of composite and titanium parts. The aircraft made its first official flight July 8.
The firm is now awaiting a first contract from the Italian Air Force for 15 aircraft and expects to be able to build 18 to 24 aircraft a year if orders build up. Cosentino said that Boeing might now take a role in the M-346 team shortlisted in a trainer contest in the United Arab Emirates.
Twenty-five T-50 aircraft have already been delivered to South Korea, the launch customer, part of a planned order of 72 aircraft. Also, Lockheed Martin officials said at the Farnborough Airshow that a third class of student pilots has now graduated. Lockheed Martin and KAI are now eyeing the possibility of supplying 60 light-attack versions of the aircraft to the Korean Air Force, while in Europe, Poland and Greece are being targeted as potential customers for the trainer.
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