Airlifter?

[Frank]

They are US versions of the Mowag

[pilatus]

Quote (Frank @ 29 Jan. 2006,14:52)

They are US versions of the Mowag

have Ireland ordered LAVIIIs?

[Frank]

No, Ireland has Mowags, the US have LAV's

[Old Redeye]

Pilatus,

the LAVIII and the Mowag Pirhana are essentially the same vehicle - one made in Canada, the other in Swizterland - a Swiss design, the Swiss Mowag company is now a subsidiary of the American General Dynamics Land Systems company.  Sorry for the confusion, its just easier for me to type LAVIII than Mowag or Prihana.

[pilatus]

so then have the army actually odered more mowags then!?if so how many!

anyway back on topic!what about the indonesian built CN235s?they are cheaper than the spainish ones me thinks!?plus they can be delivered quicker than they can from CASA!

[pym]

15, with a mix of 30mm and remote operated 12.7mm turrets

i think there could be a problem ordering 235's from indonesia, they may have developed slightly differently and thus you'd be ordering parts from half way round the world. or casa just might not be too happy being stepped over.

[Old Redeye]

Portugal will sign a contract on 17 February for 12 CASA C-295's.  Four MPA's for fisheries patrols and 8 tactical airlifters to replace C-212's and supplement existing C-130H's.  First deliveries in 2007.

A smart move by Portugal and a possible model for Ireland.  Spain/CASA would love to get the IAC's CN-235MPA's to pass on to Colombia and are preapred to make a deal for 4x C-295's; 2 MPA's and 2 tactical airlifters, to include financial help from the EU similar to what Portugal's deal.

[pilatus]

have CASA/EADS actually said this or are you just suggesting they would do this deal!they probably would!

[Old Redeye]

Pilatus,

As you know, the C-295 Persuader MPA with FITS has already visited Baldonnel.  Spain and CASA have a problem and Ireland is a good solution.  

In the aftermath of the 295 deal with Venezuela, CASA and the Spanish government had to ease Colombia's concerns by offering a batch of used 212's for free and new(er) 235's for MPA duty at a much reduced price.  Now they have to come up with the 235's and have their eyes on the IAC.  A trade-in offer kills two birds with one stone by satisfying the commitment to Colombia - which is really about selling 295's to Venezuela - and adds Ireland to the growing list of 295 buyers - and heads off a potential sale of C-27J's there.  The problem for Ireland is the government reaching a political/budgetary decsion fast enough to take advantage and the fact that with every new order the delivery time for new 295's gets further out.  Already in production or in the que are those for Algeria, Brazil Venezuela and Portugal.  Finland is next, with a high probability of an order for 2+ by April.  The C-295 and C-27J are in Finland now on trials, with the 295 favored. A 295 order placed this spring would probably not see delivery before 2008.

[pilatus]

so if ireland signed such a deal would interim aircraft be delivered and would the 235s stay till 295s arrive?i wonder how seriously is the government actually considering this?is it before the medium lift helis on the wish list?

[Old Redeye]

I doubt if the government decision-making and finance machinery can move fast enough to take this up, just as I do not believe medium helicopters will ever seriously make the list. Lets just hope they go for a full eight A-139's/149's and at least one real airlifter, eventually, after the usual long, drawnout process that ends up being more expensive and delivers less capability.

[Old Redeye]

Slovakia speeds up acquisition of new transport aircraft
Jiri Kominek JDW Correspondent
Prague

Slovakia is seeking new transport aircraft to improve its tactical airlift capabilities, as part of overall efforts to modernise its armed forces.

The requirement was accelerated by the crash in Hungary on 19 January of a Slovak air force Antonov An-24 transport aircraft, en route to Kosice (Slovakia) from Pristina (Kosovo), killing 42 personnel onboard.  

JDW has learned that the MoD released requests for information (RfIs) on 15 February to a number of potential transport aircraft suppliers including Alenia Aeronautica (C-27J Spartan), EADS-CASA (CN-235/C-295), Lockheed Martin (C-130J Hercules) and Russian and Ukrainian aerospace companies.

Sources maintain, however, that it is not likely that Slovakia would procure either Russian or Ukrainian transport aircraft as these do not meet NATO requirements.

Slovak Minister of Defence Juraj Liska resigned his post on 27 January following the An-24 crash and was replaced on 1 February by former MoD State Secretary Martin Fedor.

Currently the Slovak air force operates one remaining An-24 and two An-26 aircraft. The service also operates seven smaller L-410 light transport aircraft.

These aircraft will all end their operational service life in 2009-10 and therefore the Slovak government is under pressure to find replacements.

Industry sources say that a contract would need to be signed in early 2007 in order for deliveries to commence in 2009 and for the new aircraft to become operational in 2010.




--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
© 2006 Jane's Information Group

[Old Redeye]

Bulgaria’s ministry of defence today signed an agreement to supply five C-27Js, the tactical military transport aircraft produced by Finmeccanica subsidiary Alenia Aeronautica and the US company Lockheed Martin. The agreement includes options for a further three aircraft. This concludes the talks that began in April last year with the Bulgarian government's selection of the C-27J to replace the country's fleet of Soviet-built An-26 aircraft.  
 
The C-27J will be used to transport troops and materials not only at home but also abroad, as part of operations for NATO (of which Bulgaria has been a member since April 2004). It will give the Bulgarian armed forces, which are currently upgrading their equipment, an aircraft that fully meets the interoperability standards demanded by NATO.  
 
The first plane is scheduled for delivery in June 2007, and the rest will be delivered at a rate of one per year. The C-27J is the most advanced programme of next-generation tactical military transport aircraft available.  
 
In addition to Bulgaria, the Italian and Greek air forces have also ordered 12 planes each. In the United States, Alenia Aeronautica is in talks to provide the C-27J as part of the US military’s programme to upgrade its tactical airlifter fleet, while in Canada, it will bid for contracts to replace the country’s search and rescue fleet.  
 
Finland, Australia, Taiwan, Ireland, Malaysia and Saudi Arabia, as well as new NATO members such as the Czech Republic, are also evaluating the C-27J.

[Old Redeye]

The Czech Republic has ordered two Airbus Corporate Jetliners (ACJs), joining the growing number of governments and private customers that have chosen the aircraft following an official call for tender. Total sales of the Airbus ACJ Family now stand at some 70 aircraft.  
 
The Czech Republic has selected CFM International CFM56-5 engines to power its Airbus ACJs, which will consume much less fuel than the Tupolev Tu-154s that they will replace. Overall, the Airbus ACJs will deliver valuable savings in operational and maintenance costs to the government fleet.  
 
A quick-change kit will allow the Czech Republic’s ACJs to transport either troops or government officials, allowing the most efficient use of the aircraft.

[pilatus]

it would be nice to have a quick/change version like that buts it just not going to happen!