TE:28/02/08
SOURCE:Flight International
Hawk faces uphill task as Singapore starts AJT
evaluations
By Siva Govindasamy
Singapore has begun evaluating the contenders for its advanced jet
trainer competition, with industry sources saying the BAE Systems
Hawk 128 faces an uphill task to be included in the
shortlist.
The front-runners, Alenia Aermacchi's M346 and Korea Aerospace
Industries' T-50, were on display at the Singapore Airshow and have
been evaluated by the country's Defence Science and Technology
Agency. The Hawk was scheduled to make an appearance, but it was
reportedly delayed in the Middle East and BAE flew an aircraft to
Singapore afterwards for the trials.
The United Arab Emirates shortlisted the T-50 and the M-346 last
year, and the Hawk's elimination prompted observers to say type's
dominance in the advanced jet trainer market could be nearing an
end. Even Aermacchi and KAI seemed to believe that, with officials
training their guns on each other during the show and hardly
referring to the Hawk.
Lockheed Martin helped to design and develop the T-50, which is
based on the Lockheed Martin F-16, and both companies are jointly
marketing it. That could be a plus in Singapore, which is the
largest operator of F-16s in South-East Asia. The country is also
in the market for the Lockheed Martin F-35, and chose the company
as the training systems integrator for its basic wings course using
the Pilatus PC-21.
JR Wilridge, Lockheed's T-50 business development director, says
the companies offer training that has been proven in South Korea.
"The first batch of Republic of Korea Air Force pilots who trained
using the T-50 has graduated," he adds. "The number of sorties they
needed to achieve an optimum level fell by 20% and the total cost
is 30% lower than when using the [Northrop] T-38."
With the M-346 still to enter service, its viability has yet to be
proven, say KAI and Lockheed officials.
But Aermacchi is confident. "Singapore is one of the most
sophisticated and demanding customers in the world, and we like it
because we have the best product," says chief executive Carmelo
Cosentino. He says the contest is likely to be determined by cost
and efficiency, contending that the single-engined T-50 with an
afterburner will use twice as much fuel as the twin-engined M-436.
"We have delivered over 2,000 trainers. Our business is trainers.
Our experience is a big factor."
As BAE prepares to deliver the UK's first of 28 Hawk 128s in
August, it is confident about the type's long-term potential.
Possible markets include Europe, Indonesia, Malaysia and Saudi
Arabia, and a manufacturing joint venture with India's Hindustan
Aeronautics also being considered. It also hopes to build fuselages
for additional US Navy Boeing T-45 Goshawks beyond a production
deal that concludes in mid-2009.
But with no new purchases, the Hawk orderbook will run dry next
year. Restarting the lines could increase the costs for customers
and that, say observers, could spell the end.
