Japan to replenish military jets

Among the top contenders to replace the country's F-4 fleet include the Eurofighter Typhoon, Boeing F/A 18E/F Super Hornet and Lockheed Martin F-35 Joint Strike Fighter.

US still weighing extension of tanker deadline: Pentagon
Washington (AFP) March 23, 2010 - The Pentagon said Tuesday it has yet to decide whether to grant a request from European aerospace giant EADS to extend a deadline to bid on a contract for a new aerial refueling tanker. "We are right now engaged in active discussions with the company to better understand the reasons why they would need an extension, why they would want an extension," press secretary Geoff Morrell told reporters. "I would say those conversations are going very well thus far," he said. But he added: "we have not come to a conclusion and therefore have not made a decision yet about whether to extend the bidding period any further." Last week, the Defense Department said it would consider "a reasonable extension" to the May 10 bidding deadline after EADS signaled it may reenter the contest for the 35-billion-dollar program. The European Aeronautic Defence and Space Company had asked for a 90-day extension.

EADS was forced to withdraw from the bidding after its lead partner, US defense contractor Northrop Grumman, dropped out of the competition. Northrop's exit from the contest left the field open to Boeing, arch-rival of EADS subsidiary Airbus. Northrop had alleged the requirements for the project were unfairly skewed in favor of Boeing's smaller aircraft. Morrell said the Pentagon had "received no formal communication" from Russia's state-owned United Aircraft Corporation (UAC) for a possible bid on the tanker contract. US-based attorney John Kirkland had told several media outlets over the weekend that UAC would announce a joint venture Monday with a US company to participate in the bidding. But United Aircraft Corporation (UAC) said it had no plans to bid for the contract to build a new fleet of aerial tankers for the US Air Force.

by Staff Writers
Tokyo (UPI) Mar 23, 2009
Budgetary complaints, political bickering and financial scandals kept Japan's competition for a new combat aircraft delayed for nearly three years.

But now, after seemingly endless delays, the government in Japan is poised to forge ahead with its competition for the F-X multirole fighter, Defense News reports.

The competition calls for the purchase of an estimated 40 to 50 aircraft in a bid to replenish Japan's ageing fleet of F-4EJ Kai Phantoms.

Many of Japan's F-4 Phantom fighters have been barred from flying and discontinued from production.

A request for proposals could be announced by as early as next month, Defense News reported, with delivery of the aircraft anticipated by 2015 if a decision is taken by the end of the year.

Among the top contenders to replace the country's F-4 fleet include the Eurofighter Typhoon, Boeing F/A 18E/F Super Hornet and Lockheed Martin F-35 Joint Strike Fighter.

With concerns, however, looming over budgetary constraints, the government in Tokyo may have to think twice about the U.S.-built F-35, billed by military analysts as the best candidate in the competition.

Earlier this week, U.S. administration officials told a congressional committee that the fighter jet was set to cost $95 million apiece, about double the initial estimate considered in 2001. The price hike has been linked to a string of technical problems that surface during the plane's development.

Officials in Tokyo have already voiced concern about the viability of a licensed production of 40 to 50 combat aircraft.

"The real challenge for the Japanese is to find work for the local industry without breaking the bank," an anonymous industry source told Defense News.

"Starting from scratch on an aircraft program like that is going to astronomical in costs for the tooling and everything else. So who is going to start an entire assembly line for 40 to 50 aircraft? That doesn't mean that they will try to do something on the assembly of the aircraft, but licensed production is going to be very expensive," the source said.

Aerospace giant, Boeing has already indicated that it would be willing to outsource some production of its competing aircraft provided the government in Tokyo agreed to pick its plane as the winner jet.

Initially, Japan was eyeing Lockheed's F-22 Raptor, considered the most advanced combat aircraft in the market. Plans however, have been dashed as the United States bars sales of the aircraft abroad in an attempt to protect its stealth technology.

All three contenders are said to be offering local Japanese industries participation.

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US tanker bid war heats up with Airbus, Russia in wings
Washington (AFP) March 19, 2010
The US Air Force tanker bidding contest against Boeing heated up Friday, with Airbus parent EADS mulling a proposal and Russia's state firm UAC gearing up for one next week. EADS opened the door to a bid against US arch-rival Boeing for the 35-billion-dollar aerial refueling tanker contract on signs of Pentagon willingness to extend the May deadline. The European Aeronautic Defence and S ... read more

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