Fighters square up for last battle before JSF

Flight International 24-30 June 2003

Fighters square up for last battle before JSF

Euopean, Russian and US fighters manufacturers are focusing their near-term attention on pending requirements in Greece, Malaysia, India, Singapore and Switzerland, which are seen as among the last major purchases ahead of Joint Strike Fighter entering the market at the end of the decade.

Malaysia has already linked an initial deal for 12 Sukhoi Su-30MKM fighters and Boeing is still hopeful of announceing deal for eight F/A-18F Super Hornet at the local Langkawi airshow in October. Strained US -Malaysian political relation and planned visit next month of Malaysian prime minister Mahathir Mohammed to Sweden to giving Saab BAE Systems hope Kuala Lumpur will instead opt for the Gripen.

Saab/BAE is anticipating an initial request for proposals next year from india for up to 120 new fighters to replace elderly Mikoyan MiG-21s. The company has entered into co-operation talks with Hindustan Aeronautics, but will have to secure export permission from Swedish and US government for the licnce-built General Electric/Volovo F404-400/RM-12 engine.

Switzerland is expected to formally kick-off its NFA requirement in 2005 for 33 figters to replace Northrop F-5E/Fs. Boeing is hoping to build its earlier success with F/A-18E/F Super Hornet. Oter contenders include Eurofighter Typhoon, with offer of training and infrastructure support from neighbouring germany.

A similar eal is in place with Austria, which is in th eprocess of receiving parliamentary approval for funding for its purchase of 28 tranche 2 aircrafts, plus six options. The aircraft will be built to the same configuration as Germany’s Typhoons. Eurofighter is also hoping to conclude a stalled deal with greece in 2005 for 60 Tranche 2 Typhoons plus 30 options.

The UK is offering Singapore a local base for training squadron if it chooses the fighter early next year over Boeing F-15T and F/A-18E/F, Dassualt Rafale, Lockheed Martin F-16 Block 60 with enhancements and Su-30. The F-16 has an order backlog of 340 for delivery until 2009.