EADS Supports Bid For KC-X
Filed under: Alabama, Boeing, EADS, KC-X, KC-X Tanker News, Northrop Grumman Corp., Protest, Syndicated Industry News
It is being reported by various sources that EADS is pressuring Northrop Grumman to go ahead and submit a bid for the new KC-X RFP. Northrop had informed the Government that they planned not to if the terms were not significantly changed. They felt the RFP was favoring Boeing’s cheaper, smaller KC-767 aircraft.
The final RFP came out two weeks ago and still no word from Northrop that they will go ahead and submit something in May. EADS obviously would like another chance to win the contest after they lost the last one to Boeing’s protest in 2008. The $35 billion would go a long way to make up for the lost A400M revenue.
EADS Deadline For A400M Will Pass With No Resolution In Sight
It looks like EADS and its European customers will not meet there goal of resolving the A400M by the end of January. The company has threatened to...A400M Progressing In Flight Tests But Not Negotiations
While the A400M slowly collects flight test data talks to save the troubled program continue. Negotiations are ongoing between EADS and the seven...A400M, Airbus Military’s new airlifter, takes to the skies
A400M, Airbus Military's new airlifter, takes to the skies11 December 2009
This morning Airbus Military’s all-new A400M took off for its maiden flight from Seville Airport in Spain. The first entirely new airlifter of the 21st Century took to the air from runway 09 at 10:15 local time (09:15 UTC).
At the controls was Chief Test Pilot Military, Edward “Ed” Strongman, 60, with Experimental Test Pilot Ignacio “Nacho” Lombo, 43, in the right-hand seat. Four engineers are also on the aircraft: Senior Flight Test Engineer Jean-Philippe Cottet, 43, who has responsibility for the powerplants; Senior Flight Test Engineer Eric Isorce, 52, with responsibility for systems and performance; Senior Flight Test Engineer Didier Ronceray, 54, with responsibility for the handling qualities of the aircraft; and Test Flight Engineer Gerard Leskerpit, 50.
Between them the multi-national crew has logged more than 31,000 total flight hours.
The aircraft, with a take-off weight of 127 tonnes, is equipped with 15 tonnes of flight-test equipment including two tonnes of water ballast and its performance is being monitored in realtime by teams of engineers in Seville and Toulouse using state-of-the-art air-ground telemetry. The crew will explore the aircraft’s handling characteristics in the various flap configurations, check the powerplant operation and make initial evaluations of the aircraft’s systems.
Its four all-new Europrop International (EPI) TP400D turboprop powerplants producing 11,000shp (8,200kW) each are the most powerful propeller engines ever fitted to a Western aircraft.
The duration of the flight will be at the test team’s discretion and will end with a landing back at Seville in front of more than 2,000 media, VIPs and Airbus Military staff.
Over the last four weeks the aircraft has been extensively tested on the ground in an increasingly challenging programme leading up to the first flight.
The engines have been run at full power, the electrical systems and on-board data network exhaustively tested, and numerous taxying runs at progressively higher speeds have been performed culminating in a rejected take-off test at a speed of 123kt (227km/hr) on 8th December.
Today’s first flight marks the beginning of a test campaign that will see some 3,700 hours of flying by an eventual five aircraft conducted between now and entry-into-service at the end of 2012. The A400M will receive both civil certification by the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) and military certification and qualification.
Airbus and Airbus Military have drawn on their decades of technical experience in building civil airliners to produce the world’s most modern airlifter capable of both strategic and tactical operations. Despite being a true tactical aircraft that can land on soft, rough and short runways to deliver equipment and troops close to where they are urgently needed, it cruises at the same altitudes as jets and at comparable speeds.
It was designed from the outset as an aerial refueller and can offload fuel to both fighters and helicopters at their preferred speeds and heights.
The A400M features the same proven fly-by-wire controls technology as Airbus’ highly successful airliner family and an advanced cockpit that has evolved from that of the A380. Carbon-fibre reinforced plastic (CFRP) wings and other large structures bring weight and strength advantages and cut the risk of corrosion.
A total of 184 aircraft have so far been ordered by Belgium, France, Germany, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Spain, Turkey and the United Kingdom,
Airbus Military
Airbus Military is the only military and civil transport aircraft manufacturer to develop, produce, sell and support a comprehensive family of airlifters ranging from three to 37 tonnes of payload. Within Airbus, Airbus Military is responsible for the A400M programme, as well as for military tanker transport derivatives based on Airbus civil aircraft, with the integration of the state-of-the-art flight-refuelling boom (ARBS) which is unique in its class. With the C-295, CN-235 and C-212, Airbus Military is the global leader in the market segments for light and medium-sized military transport aircraft. Altogether Airbus Military has sold more than 1,000 aircraft with over 650 flying with more than 100 operators worldwide.
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C-130J Production Looking Up
Filed under: Business Line, Companies, Congress, EADS, Events, Lockheed Martin, Military Aviation, Services, U.S. Air Force, U.S. Navy, logistics, production program
Lockheed is planning on doubling production of the C-130J transport aircraft over the next few years. Demand for the aircraft from overseas customers has increased. The U.S. Air Force and Marine Corps also buy several aircraft a year as they upgrade their fleets of C-130E and C-130H and the program has garnered strong Congressional support.
Several of the Gulf States have placed orders and others are negotiating deals. The delays to the competing A400M made by EADS has also opened up some market opportunities as countries wanting that aircraft have had to wait several more months then originally planned. South Africa has already canceled their planned buy of the European transport. There really is no other aircraft in the class as most other aircraft are smaller or much larger such as the C-27 Joint Cargo Aircraft (JCA) or the C-17. Lockheed is obviously confident that the success of the program will continue if they are willing to make a commitment such as this.
First Shoe Drops For EADS On A400M
South Africa announced that it had canceled their order for eight A400M transports due to the price increase caused by the program delays. This is...South Africa May Be The First A400M Casualty
Filed under: Airbus, Business Line, Companies, Contract Awards, Countries, EADS, Events, Lockheed Martin, Military Aviation, Restructuring, South Africa, development program, production program
The A400M is one of EADS most ambitious military programs. The new tactical transport would be developed and built in Europe for several different nations and provide a possible counterweight to the C-130 for overseas sales. The aircraft has faced development struggles that has led to a two year delay in the delivery of the test vehicles and caused the customers to rethink whether to continue. This would have been harsh for EADS as they would have to pay penalties to the countries that invested in them.
In July it was decided to renegotiate the contract to allow EADS time to restructure it and meet its obligations. The A400M has also attracted some foriegn customers and now South Africa is considering canceling their order for eight aircraft due to a price increase of over 150 percent. If the contract was not canceled by the end of the month the nation must continue on with the program and pay the new price. This would be about $6.4 billion compared to the original estimate of $2.6 billion in current exchange rates.
Defense acquisition programs that run late or over budget are nothing new. Normally when an overseas sale occurs of this kind of system it is after it has been in production for a few years and the price stablized. In this case South Africa gambled that the A400M would be completed on time and cost without any serious issues. This has turned out not to be true and they are facing a price increase of starting over. The aircraft are considered key to their peace keeping capability.
O
English Defense Industry Looking Bleak
Filed under: BAE Systems, Business Line, Companies, Contract Awards, Countries, Department of Defense, England, Events, Military Aviation, Scotland, Services, VT Group, production program
It is true that the United States defense budget does dominate the world’s spending on arms and equipment but the U.K. has always had large spending plans as well. Now that the U.K. government of Gordon Brown is facing massive deficits due to social spending and attempts at stimulating their own economy since the global recession began twelve months or so ago defence spending may get a little tight. There has already been discussion of canceling some large programs as well as cutting back on general spending. Like in the U.S. ending these kind of programs will lead to more job losses on top of those already gone in the civilian economy.
That is why stories like this one about the U.S. military buying BAE Systems artillery pieces that will be made in the U.K. will become more common. When you are relying on foriegn sales to keep up jobs for six months at a time it is not a good sign. There are bigger programs at risk for the U.K. such as the Eurofighter or A400M transports. The government is scrambling to maintain the new aircraft carrier contract as the jobs at Scottish shipyards are key to that part of the nation’s economy.
There is no doubt that the U.S. will also see a fall in defense spending as the pressures of debt, health care reform and other priorities will limit the money available from the Obama Administration’s budget.
A400M Talks Continue
Filed under: Boeing, Business Line, Companies, Congress, Contract Awards, Countries, EADS, England, Events, Military Aviation, Restructuring, Spain, Turkey, commercial aviation, development program, logistics
With the Paris Airshow coming up there is a great deal of pressure on EADS to be able to announce some good news at the premier showcase for their products. The company is looking at some severe issues on the military side with their major program the A400M facing push back from its customers.
This medium transport program is at a critical juncture as the nations looking to buy it have the right to end their deals and demand several million dollars worth of payments back from the company. England has been the most negative on the project as their budget problems overall are forcing an entire re-look at military procurement. Some of the other smaller countries such as Spain and Turkey have been more positive.
Now it is reported that talks between EADS and its customers have been extended once again to try and work something out. The hope is that more defense work will be able to balance off the decline in the civil aviation market driven by the world’s recession. Unfortunately like Boeing is facing EADS may have to deal with some major cuts to plans for U.S. defense spending. The FY 2011 budget may continue the large cuts to defense programs that Obama’s first one did.
Support for the A400M from Spain and Turkey
Filed under: Business Line, Companies, Contract Awards, Countries, EADS, England, Events, France, Germany, Military Aviation, Restructuring, Spain, Turkey, development program, logistics, production program
The Guardian is reporting that these two countries have affirmed their support for their orders from EADS for the new transports. Unlike France, the UK and Germany who have openly discussed canceling or modifying their orders Spain and Turkey have said that they still want the new aircraft. The A400M will be assembled in Spain. There two orders make up about 25% of the planned fleet of the aircraft. It has been decided that the seven NATO countries who have bought the plane will talk every two weeks or so to review the status of the program. The decision on whether EADS would have to pay back the customers due to the two year delay in the program has been extended to May 1st. EADS feels that they need relief both in time and price and really need to renegotiate the contract to account for this long delay. Either canceling the contract or making EADS pay the penalties would be a great blow to the company.
Thales Has Off Year
Filed under: Business Line, Companies, Countries, EADS, Earnings, Events, France, Military Aviation, Thales, development program, production program
Thales the French defense contractor reported that in 2008 net profit fell thirty-six percent. CNNMoney.com writes that this is due higher taxes and a charge against the struggling A400M transport contract. Earnings did rise two percent this last year and revenue just one. The company paid high taxes because of a large capital gain in 2007. The A400M contract also required a charge of about $120 million. The company though feels that 2009 will be a good year as it has a large backlog. There was no discussion of the effect on the company if either the customers or EADS ends the A400M development program.
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