Brezilya F-X2 İhalesinde Gripen Önde (mi?) - Gelişmeler

Gripen'ın Brezilya'daki şansının oldukça yüksek olduğuna dair yeni haberler geliyor. En son İtalyan Selex Galileo firması, F-X2 projesi için önerilen Gripen NG'de kullanılacak AESA radar sisteminin ortak geliştirilmesi için Brezilyalı ATMOS firması ile 5 Ocak'ta bir mutabakat muhtırası imzalamış.

Jane's Defence Industry'nin 06.01.2010 tarihli haberine göre Vixen 1000E/ES05 Raven adlı radarın geliştirilmesi için Brezilyalı ATMOS firmasına teknoloji transferi ve bazı parçaların üretimi verilecek. ATMOS ayrıca radarın üçüncü ülkelere satışında da pay sahibi olacak.

Selex teams with ATMOS to boost Gripen F-X2 bid

Date Posted:  06-Jan-2010

Jane's Defence Industry

Gareth Jennings Jane's Aviation Desk Editor

Selex Galileo has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Brazil's ATMOS Sistemas to collaborate in the development of its active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar for the Saab JAS 39 Gripen NG combat aircraft, it announced on 5 January.

The Vixen 1000E/ES05 Raven AESA radar, which is currently being wholly developed by Selex Sensors and Airborne Systems in Edinburgh, Scotland, is a major selling point for the Gripen's entry into Brazil's F-X2 fighter replacement competition, the result of which is due to announced later this year.

According to Selex, the MoU will include technology transfer, work share and co-operative development of the radar, all of which are key requirements in the F-X2 bid to equip the Brazilian Air Force (Força Aérea Brasileira - FAB) with 36 next-generation fighter aircraft (a total that could rise to as many as 120 aircraft, in Jane's view, by the completion of the programme).

As all the component parts of the Raven radar have already been cleared for export, technology export approval for the system should not be a problem.

With the radar being developed in Scotland, the Swedish Gripen NG bid already has the full backing of the UK government, and teaming with another Brazilian company (Saab has already secured an industrial partnership with Brazilian aerospace group Embraer) will boost its chances still further.

Tony Ogilvy, Vice-President, International Marketing for Gripen, told Jane's in November 2009 that the fact that neither Sweden nor the UK have any "real history" in Latin America will be seen as an advantage by the Brazilian government.

Through Embraer, Brazil would produce 40 per cent of each Gripen sold to the FAB and will have exclusive export rights to the rest of Latin America if the Swedish fighter won the F-X2 contest.

While Ogilvy feels that the Gripen is "most definitely" the aircraft of choice for the FAB, he concedes that, with Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva having already publicly stated his preference for the rival Dassault Rafale, the final choice may come down to political expediency rather than platform capability.

Dassault has not made public details of its bid and local teaming arrangements. However, the Brazilian president told Agence France Presse on 5 September 2009 that the French package of technology transfer options gave Rafale an "exceptional comparative advantage" in the tender.

The third competitor in the competition is Boeing with its F/A-18E/F Super Hornet. Boeing has offered local assembly of the aircraft and will subcontract the manufacture of a number of subassemblies for the platform to Brazilian industry. In-country support by local industry for both the aircraft and engine are also included in the Boeing bid, with the company offering to integrate Brazil's current non-US missile inventory onto the aircraft.

Bu arada defence-aerospace sitesi, "Brezilya F-X2 İhalesinde Gripen Önde (mi?)" başlıklı yazımda bahsettiğim, Folha de Sao Paolo gazetesinin haberinin tam metnini, İngilizce'ye çevirerek yayınlamış. Haber metninin satır aralarında Brezilya Hava Kuvvetleri'nin söz konusu teknik değerlendirme raporuna ilişkin ayrıntılar var. Çeviri metnindeki koyu ile işaretlenmiş vurguları ben ekledim.

Brazilian Air Force Recommends Purchase of Gripen NG, the Least Expensive Finalist of the FX-2 Competition  

(Source: Folha de San Paolo; published Jan. 5, 2009)

(Issued in Portuguese only; unofficial translation by defense-aerospace.com)

SAO PAOLO, Brazil --- The French Dassault Rafale fighter was rated in third and last place in the technical report that the Brazilian Air Force Command submitted to Defense Minister Nelson Jobim on the project FX-2 fleet renewal program.

The Gripen NG, offered by Sweden’s Saab, ranked first in the evaluation, and the F-18 Super Hornet offered by US-based Boeing came second.

The result will constrains the government and further delay the final decision on the proposed purchase of 36 new combat aircraft, by opposing the pro-Swedish technical evaluation of the Air Force to the political and diplomatic preference given by President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva to the offer presented by the French.

The decision in favor of Rafale was even announced in a joint statement signed by Presidents Lula and Nicolas Sarkozy last September, but the Brazilian government soft-pedaled after the strong political backlash which emerged because the air force had not completed the technical evaluation of the competitors.

Now the government is at an impasse: either over-rules the air force, and buys the Rafale, or its risks French anger by following the air force’s recommendations and buying the Gripen NG. Formally, the President is free to choose any of the three.

According to Folha, the "executive summary" of the report of FAB with the final conclusions of more than 30,000 pages of data, pointed to the financial factor as decisive for tanking the Gripen NG in first place. Gripen NG is single-engined and is still in the design phase although based on the current Gripen, and it is the cheapest of the three final competitors.

The difference in price is as much on cost of the aircraft as on the cost of its maintenance. Saab says it offered the Gripen NG at half the price of the Rafale, or about US $ 70 million per unit. It also says that its cost per flight hour is one-fourth of the Rafale’s, which Dassault disputes: as the Rafale has two engines, it is admittedly more expensive to operate, but would also perform better.

The Brazilian air force, which would bear these costs during the 30-year life of the aircraft, considers this a priority issue.

The technology transfer issue also weighed on the air force’s recommendation. The Gripen NG is still in the development phase, and in theory this offers greater access to its technologies for future business partners, such as Embraer. Saab promised to locate final production in Brazil, but Dassault has also offered it for the Rafale. The problem, the air force said, is that the Rafale is a finished product, which would presumably allow only a lower rate of transfer of production know-how.

The report of the FAB did not consider as negative the fact that the Swedish aircraft is single-engined, as in modern aircraft that is seen as a minor problem in the incidence of accidents.

The Rafale had three major obstacles, according to the air force’s evaluation:

1) Its price is considered prohibitive, despite what French President Nicolas Sarkozy promised Lula.

2) The promised transfer of technology was considered lacking in ambition by Brazil. This is a "finished product", which would be difficult for Brazil to sell to other countries.

3) Embraer, consulted by the Air Force, said that if the Rafale was chosen it would have no interest in participating in the project because it would gain very little in terms of technology and business.

The evaluation report was prepared by COPAC (Coordinating Committee for the Combat Aircraft Program) and ratified by the High Command of the Air Force on December 18.

Jobim returned to Brasilia last night ready to meet with the Air Force commander, Brigadier Juniti Saito. Officially, to gain time, the government’s position is that the FAB has not handed in the document.

The minister already knew the outcome from a trip he took with Saito as China and Ukraine at the end of the year. The two used a layover in Paris to discuss the issue with the president of COPAC, Brigadier Dirceu Tondolo Noro, who, according to Folha, was called to meet them in the French capital at very short notice.

The Brazilian procurement is one of the major acquisition programs in the world, and may exceed 10 billion Brazilian reals.

In an interview with Folha in December, Jobim admitted that he had intervened to change the rules of the COAPC report, but without acknowledging that his intention was to prevent the air force from selecting an aircraft that would have displeased the Planalto (Brazil’s Presidential residence—Ed.)

Brezilya F-X2 İhalesinde Gripen Önde (mi?)

DefenseNews haberine göre Brezilya Hava Kuvvetleri'nin tercihi Gripen'dan yana. Haberin kaynağı Brezilyalı Folha de Sao Paolo gazetesinin ele geçirdiği ve Brezilya Hava Kuvvetleri tarafından hazırlanmış bir rapor.

Bu rapora göre Rafale, Brezilya HvK'nin ikinci tercihi bile değilmiş. Gripen'dan sonraki tercih F/A-18E/F Super Hornet olarak belirlenmiş.

Brezilya Devlet Başkanı de Silva bir süre önce Fransız Devlet Başkanı Sarkozy ile görüşmesinden sonra, Rafale için görüşmelere başlanacağı gafını yapmıştı. Devlet Başkanı'nın bu açıklamasından sonra Brezilya Savunma Bakanlığı, ihalenin henüz tamamlanmadığı, nihai kararın verilmediği şeklinde düzeltme yayınlamak zorunda kalmıştı.

Habere göre Gripen'ın en avantajlı olduğu alanlar düşük maliyeti ve önerilen geniş teknolojik katılım paketleri. Rafale'nin orta - uzun vadede ortak üretimde fazla  bir kâr marjı ihtimaline sahip olmaması, başka bir ifade ile uzun vadede üçüncü ülkelere ihrac şansının düşük olması, uçağın yüksek fiyat etiketi ile birlikte listenin sonunda yer almasına neden olmuş.

Brazilian Air Force Backs Gripen In Jet Debate

AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE

Published: 6 Jan 2010 06:55
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BRASILIA, Brazil - The Brazilian Air Force's first choice in the contest for a $7 billion contract for 36 high-tech fighter jets is the NG Gripen by Sweden's Saab, and not the government's pick, the French Rafale, Folha de Sao Paulo reported Jan. 5.

Citing an Air Force technical report, the newspaper said the French jet was not even the Air Force's second pick for the fighters. The runner-up was the F/A-18 Super Hornet by U.S. group Boeing.

The Rafale, an multirole fighter made by Dassault, had been seen as leading the pack since President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva and French President Nicolas Sarkozy announced jointly in September that Brazil was negotiating to buy the delta-winged aircraft.

If that intent to purchase is confirmed, it would be the first export sale of the Rafale, possibly making it more attractive to other potential buyers Switzerland and India.

But Saab and Boeing are fighting fiercely to land the Brazilian contract, reportedly slashing prices to do so.

Lula's government has said the deal is not yet done with Dassault. It is waiting for an Air Force evaluation of the three contenders to be completed. Still, Lula has stressed that the final decision is his, and will be based on political and strategic considerations.

The priority for Brazil is to acquire technology through the purchase so it can end up with the capability to build its own 21st-century fighters.

Folha said the Air Force preferred the Swedish model because it was less costly and potentially had better commercial possibilities. And profit margins on future local production of the French jet were theoretically less interesting to local aviation giant Embraer, the Folha report added.
http://www.defensenews.com/story.php?i=4443339&c=AME&s=AIR

Güney Afrika'ya EMB-145 Erieye HEİK Sistemi

Flight Global'in haberine göre son yıllarda hızlı bir modernizasyon faaliyeti yürüten Güney Afrika, havadan erken ihbar ve kontrol (HEİK) uçağı tedariğini tartışıyor. HEİK uçağı ihtiyacının gerek EEZ (Economic Exclusion Zone) gerekse 2010 Olimpiyat Oyunları güvenliği çerçevesinde gündeme geldiği belirtilmiş. HEİK için gündemdeki aday, Embraer EMB-145 platformu üzerindeki Ericsson Erieye sistemi.

Saab's Erieye radar technology eyed as part of South African defence package

South Africa may include an airborne early warning (AEW) aircraft requirement in a package of defence contracts for economic exclusion zone (EEZ) security and peacekeeping operations being scoped by the South African National Defence Force (SANDF).

The AEW requirement could incorporate maritime surface and land target surveillance roles, with the system to be used in homeland security and direct military roles.

The potential project is seen as having close parallels to Brazil's Surveillance of the Amazon (SIVAM) initiative, with the Saab Microwave Systems Erieye radar looked at by the SANDF and the South African defence ministry.

It is also being driven by South Africa's commitment to provide comprehensive security arrangements as a condition of hosting the football World Cup in 2010.

Saab briefed the MoD in Cape Town on 19 September. The company also held discussions with South African defence minister Mosiua Lekota at the Africa Aerospace and Defence show on 21 September. The Brazilian air force deployed one of its Erieye-equipped Embraer EMB-145 AEW aircraft to South Africa to participate in the show.

Progressing the AEW requirement "is a question of what are their priorities and what financing they are ready to give this", says Saab executive vice-president Ken-Ake Jonsson. "There is definitely a need for it, but at the end it is a question of money."

The project may also see the acquisition of multirole landing ships capable of helicopter operations. The peacekeeping equipment package should be supported by South Africa's acquisition of eight Airbus Military A400M transports.

http://www.flightglobal.com/Articles/2006/09/26/209291/Embraer+and+Saab+in+frame+as+South+Africa+mulls+AEW.html

Pakistan'ın Saab 2000 HEİK Alımı

Pakistan İsveç'ten 1 milyar dolar karşılığında Saab 2000 uçağına monteli Ericsson ERIEYE HEİK (hava erken ihbar ve kontrol) sistemi satın alıyor. Tedarik edilecek 14 Saab 2000 uçağından yedisi ERIEYE sistemi ile donatılarak HEİK görevine verilecek, diğer yedisi ise Pakistan International Airlines'İn hizmetten ayrılan Fokker uçaklarının yerini alacak.

Pakistan To Receive Swedish ERIEYE AEW&C System And SAAB Aircrafts

July 14, 2004: Pakistan has taken a big leap to strengthen its fast depleting air power by securing a nod from Sweden to sell Islamabad an Airborne Early Warning and Control System (AEW&CS), informed sources said. This state-of-the-art system will also augment Pakistan Navy’s existing potential for maritime and tactical surveillance, the sources added. Close to final approval is Pakistan’s decision to acquire 14 SAAB 2000 aircraft from Sweden. Seven of these aircraft will be dedicated for the PAF’s AEW&CS while the remaining seven will be acquired by the PIA to replace its fleet of Fokker aircraft, which have already been grounded, the sources said.

Several Fokker-related incidents, including the last year’s crash that killed the then chief of air staff, air marshal Mushaf Ali Mir, and 17 other PAF officials, the PIA had decided last year to sell its fleet of 11 aircraft and replace them with compatible ones. The seven SAAB 2000 that will replace the ageing Fokkers on the PIA’s heavily subsidized socio-economic routes will help the airline save about Rs 200 million on the subsidized routes that cost the PIA about Rs 400 million every year. Because of the composite nature of the deal, the PIA would pay only $45 million for the seven SAAB aircraft as against the $98 million for the French ATR and $91 million for the American Dash-8 that will cost about $98 million. For its part the Swedish government has provided a guarantee for the smooth supply of SAAB spare parts as long as the aircraft is flown anywhere in the world, the PIA sources confirmed. Six hundred of such planes are being flown all over the world.

The SAAB aircraft for the PAF will be equipped with ERIEYE AEW&C system which can manage airborne early warning; intercept communication; airspace management; surveillance and control borders; detect illegal shipment of weapons and drugs; and coordinate search and rescue operations. It will be two years before the PAF receives its first AEW&C system. The deal would cost Pakistan about $1.7 billion (approximately Rs 90 billion) during the next five years, and it will constitute the biggest defence purchase by the Musharraf administration. During his recently concluded visit to Sweden, President Pervez Musharraf is understood to have held extensive discussions with the Swedish leadership on Pakistan’s interest in the AEW&CS, sources familiar with the discussions in Sweden said.

Sweden had earlier turned down Pakistan’s requests on the reasons ranging from democracy to child labour. Chief of Air Staff Air Marshal Sa’adat Kaleem will be visiting Sweden to further negotiate the deal later this month. The sources said the AEW&CS would not only help Pakistan to counter-balance the Indian acquisition of the Israeli Phalcon airborne surveillance system, it will boast the Pakistan Air Force’s and the Navy’s reaction capabilities by providing early and specific warnings. In the Rs 7.6 trillion defence budget announced this week, the Indian government has earmarked the largest sum for country’s air force by committing to buy new combat aircraft, airborne warning and control systems and missiles during the current year.

"The AEW&CS from Sweden, F-7 from China, upgraded Mirages from France and fresh supplies of Mirage spare parts from Libya would help the PAF meet the air challenge from our arch rival," commented a retired PAF air marshal. Pakistan had first shown interest in the purchase of AWE&CS from Sweden in 1995 when the then Pakistani prime minister, Benazir Bhutto, had visited Stockholm and had requested the then Swedish premier, Olf Palme, to approve the sale. "For nine years we have tried to secure these aircraft from SAAB/Erricson," said an official source.

While the PAF made a determined effort to induct the SAAB AEW&CS into its fleet, but in its process to replace the Fokkers, the PIA tested the SAAB 2000, fitted with engine from Allison/Rolls Royce ATR and Dash-8 fitted with engines from Pratt and Whitney. With the PAF’s deal for SAAB-based AEW&C almost complete, it is now almost certain that the PIA would approve a strong internal recommendation for the SAAB 2000. "It makes more sense because the SAAB will be setting facility for the maintenance of the PAF’s SAAB 2000 in the country," said an official. "It’s much feasible, both financially as well as technically, to have a combined maintenance facility for the PAF’s and the PIA’s SAAB fleet."

http://www.pakistanidefence.com/news/FullNews/2004/July2004/AWECS_DEAL.htm

Pakistan Okays $1 Billion Deal for Swedish AWACS
By REUTERS, ISLAMABAD, Pakistan


Pakistan’s cabinet approved on May 24 plans for the purchase of a $1 billion airborne early warning surveillance system from Swedish firms Saab and Ericsson to boost its air defenses.

Pakistan, concerned over nuclear rival India’s plan to purchase an airborne early warning system (AWACS), has long been seeking a similar system from Sweden.

"The Federal Cabinet accorded the go-ahead to the Ministry of Defence Production of the proposed purchase of AWACS aircraft from Sweden," said an official statement issued after the cabinet meeting.

Defence group Saab announced in October that it and Ericsson had won the order worth more than 8 billion crowns ($1 billion) from Pakistan.

Pakistan, struck by a devastating earthquake at the time, had said it had yet to give the final go ahead to the deal.

The statement said defense officials informed the cabinet that Pakistan lacked a reliable surveillance system for its air space.

"In order to safeguard the air defences of Pakistan, it was deemed necessary to have the latest, airborne early warning systems," it added.

The system includes Saab 2000 turboprop aircraft equipped with airborne radar from Ericsson.

Nuclear-armed Pakistan and India have continued to focus on building their military capabilities despite a warming of ties since they went to the the brink of a fourth war in 2002.

http://www.defensenews.com/story.php?F=1823397&C=asiapac

İsveç'in İhtiyaç Fazlası JAS-39 Gripen Satışı

İsveç Hava Kuvvetleri Komutanı Håkan Syrén, Svenska Dagbladet gazetesine yaptığı açıklamada envanterdeki 170 civarındaki JAS-39 Gripen ön hat savaş uçağından 100 civarına ihtiyaç duyduklarını, geriye kalan 65 - 70 civarındaki Gripen'ın ihtiyaç fazlası olarak satılabileceğini açıkladı. Syrén'in beyanatına göre satıştan yaklaşık 20 milyar İsveç Kronu (yaklaşık 2.7 milyar ABD Doları) gelir elde edilmesi bekleniyor.

Bilindiği gibi Macaristan, Çek Cumhuriyeti ve Güney Afrika halihazırda JAS-39 Gripen kullanıcısı ülkeler. Bu ülkeler ilave Gripen tedariği ile ilgilenebileceklerini beyan etmişlerdi. İlaveten Brezilya, Tayland, Bulgaristan gibi ülkelerin çok rollü hafif savaş uçağı gereksinimleri mevcut.

İsveç gazetesindeki haberin aslı:

Hårdbantning av flygvapnet

Försvaret tvingas till ännu en kraftig nedrustning. Antalet Jasplan som vid 2004 års försvarsbeslut skulle uppgå till 140 minskas till 100. Det innebär att totalt 65–70 plan som kostat skattebetalarna minst 20 miljarder kronor ska skrotas – om industrin inte lyckas exportera dem.

Det framgår av ett förslag som överbefälhavaren (ÖB) Håkan Syrén igår lämnade till försvarsminister Leni Björklund.

I riksdagens försvarsbeslut 2004 sades att Sverige ha fyra divisioner Jasplan. Beslutet gällde åren 2004– 2007. I regeringens budgetunderlag då talades det om 140 plan, i stordivisoner om 35 plan i varje. Men i ÖB:s underlag inför 2007 års budget föreslår han nu att försvaret endast behåller ”100 operativa flygplan”.

Detta är en väldigt stor minskning av flygvapnet?
– Ja, men det är en anpassning till de politiska beslut som fattas, säger generallöjtnant Mats Nilsson som är försvarets produktionschef till SvD.

1975 hade Sverige cirka 700 stridsflygplan i 40 divisioner. Sedan dess har försvarsbesluten halverat flygvapnets styrka till åtta divisioner år 2000 och fyra divisioner i 2004 års försvarsbeslut.

Visserligen har Sverige tidigare skrotat Draken-plan i förtid, men de ersattes då av modernare Viggenplan. När Viggen skrotades kom Jas Gripen som ersättare. Nu är det en ren nedskärning, utan några nya plan som kompenserar nedgången.

Siffran 100 Jasplan i Sveriges försvar kan ställas i relation till de totalt 204 Jasplan som svenska staten beställt.

Av dessa har 14 Jasplan byggts om och sålts till Ungern och 14 till Tjeckien. Efter några haverier och ombyggnad till provflygplan innebär det en lite för stor numerär på kring 170 Jasplan. Med ett 100-plansflygvapen blir det nära 70 plan som inte längre behövs.

– Vi måste ha en riktig numerär för att långsiktigt kunna driva systemet vidare utifrån den insatsorganisation som riksdag och regeringen beslutat, säger Mats Nilsson.

Är det ekonomi eller hotbild som gör att man minskar till 100 plan?
– Det tycker jag inte är en relevant fråga. Vad vi vill göra är att få ut högsta möjliga operativa effekt som långsiktigt bär mot de krav vi har på oss, svarar Mats Nilsson.

De plan som försvaret vill ha kvar är de modernaste versionerna av Jas, C/D. Dessa 69 plan kan tankas i luften och användas i internationella insatser. Till det kommer de äldsta Jasplanen, version A/B, som försvaret har 101 stycken av.

Här föreslår ÖB att industrin moderniserar 31 Jasplan till C/D-status.

– Ett naturligt steg för oss nu är att ha en enhetlig flotta. Det blir driftsmässigt billigare för oss, säger generallöjtnant Mats Nilsson.

Men det innebär alltså att 65-70 plan blir överflödiga. Hela Jas-programmet, inklusive utveckling, har kostat skattebetalarna runt 100 miljarder kronor under 20 år. Uppskattningsvis har de 70 planen som nu inte behövs kostat 20 miljarder kronor.

Det är plan för 20 miljarder som ska skrotas?
– Så kan man säga om man vill. Men vad vi har att göra är att på mest ekonomiskt sätt leva upp till de krav som är ställda på oss av riksdag och regering. De har en gång beslutat om 12 divisioner, nu ska vi ha fyra, säger Mats Nilsson.

ÖB anger också att Jasplanen kan bli en ”exportresurs”, det vill säga att de möjligen kan byggas om för utländska kunder.

– Detta är en idé och en handlingsplan som försvarsmakten tagit fram. Vi vill nu sätta oss i diskussioner med industrin för att få ett avtal. Vi har fortfarande C/D-plan under leverans och det här måste stämma med framtida exportkunder, säger Mats Nilsson.

http://www.svd.se/dynamiskt/inrikes/did_12478653.asp