Airbus pushes for UK maritime patrol contest
Sjekk Discussion Paper fra Royal Aeronautical Society: http://tinyurl.com/ns7oj32
One of the potential bidders for a future UK maritime patrol
aircraft requirement is calling on the Ministry of Defence to
hold a competition, rather than “rush in” to a sole-source
deal to buy Boeing’s 737-based P-8 Poseidon.
aircraft requirement is calling on the Ministry of Defence to
hold a competition, rather than “rush in” to a sole-source
deal to buy Boeing’s 737-based P-8 Poseidon.
Airbus Defence & Space has been touting its
multirole C295 as an affordable means of reinstating a
lapsed maritime patrol capability for the Royal Air Force,
proposing an acquisition of around 12 aircraft. A
Portuguese air force example was on display at the
Farnborough air show as part of the airframer’s
promotional activity around the type.
multirole C295 as an affordable means of reinstating a
lapsed maritime patrol capability for the Royal Air Force,
proposing an acquisition of around 12 aircraft. A
Portuguese air force example was on display at the
Farnborough air show as part of the airframer’s
promotional activity around the type.
Foto: Per Gram
Foto: Flight Intl.
Pointing to a long-running consultation involving the Ministry of
Defence and industry called the Air ISTAR Optimisation Study
(AIOS), Richard Thompson, head of military aircraft UK for Airbus
Defence & Space, comments: “All of a sudden there seems
to be an urgency to replace the maritime component.”
Defence and industry called the Air ISTAR Optimisation Study
(AIOS), Richard Thompson, head of military aircraft UK for Airbus
Defence & Space, comments: “All of a sudden there seems
to be an urgency to replace the maritime component.”
Highlighting a pre-show concern that the MoD could be poised to
order the P-8 as a successor to its retired British Aerospace
Nimrod MR2s, Thompson says: “The P-8 is not the only off-the-
shelf solution. There are alternatives.”
order the P-8 as a successor to its retired British Aerospace
Nimrod MR2s, Thompson says: “The P-8 is not the only off-the-
shelf solution. There are alternatives.”
Twelve C925s equipped with maritime patrol and anti-submarine
warfare equipment already used by the UK armed forces could
be acquired for half the price of six P-8s, while life-cycle costs
would be between one-quarter and one-fifth those of the larger
type, he claims.
warfare equipment already used by the UK armed forces could
be acquired for half the price of six P-8s, while life-cycle costs
would be between one-quarter and one-fifth those of the larger
type, he claims.
Several other systems are being promoted for possible UK
application, including a Saab solution based on its 2000
turboprop and a Bombardier Q400 proposal backed by
companies including L-3 Communications.
application, including a Saab solution based on its 2000
turboprop and a Bombardier Q400 proposal backed by
companies including L-3 Communications.
Thompson also believes that additional capacity on the UK’s
A330 Voyager programme could be used to satisfy other
future airborne command and control requirements. One
potential application could be to adapt several aircraft to serve
as replacements for the RAF’s Boeing 707-based E-3D airborne
warning and control system fleet, he suggests.
A330 Voyager programme could be used to satisfy other
future airborne command and control requirements. One
potential application could be to adapt several aircraft to serve
as replacements for the RAF’s Boeing 707-based E-3D airborne
warning and control system fleet, he suggests.
“We have put forward what we think is a balanced set of
proposals for overland and maritime surveillance, and to bring
Voyager in in the fullness of time for airborne early warning
and command and control,” Thompson says. “Now we need
customer engagement.”
proposals for overland and maritime surveillance, and to bring
Voyager in in the fullness of time for airborne early warning
and command and control,” Thompson says. “Now we need
customer engagement.”
“The AIOS is one of a number of ongoing strands on analysis
that will contribute to the Strategic Defence and Security
Review 2015,” says the MoD, which during Farnborough
announced funding to extend operations of the RAF’s
Sentinel R1 and Shadow R1 surveillance aircraft until 2018.
that will contribute to the Strategic Defence and Security
Review 2015,” says the MoD, which during Farnborough
announced funding to extend operations of the RAF’s
Sentinel R1 and Shadow R1 surveillance aircraft until 2018.
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