Battle to win Singapores trainer contest heats up
Singapore has completed technical evaluations of four primary
trainers and is set to begin contract negotiations in late June or
early July with Aermacchi and Lockheed Martin, offering lease deals
on the M311 and Pilatus PC-21 respectively.
Industry sources say Singapores evaluation team has determined the
M311 and PC-21 meet the requirement, but has rejected the Embraer
EMB-314 Super Tucano and Raytheon T-6B.
The evaluation, conducted by the Defence Science and Technology
Agency, is expected to be approved by air force leaders within the
next few weeks. After the evaluation is approved, price bids will
be opened and one or two companies will be invited for contract
negotiations. Sources say Singapore could enter into contract
negotiations with one company if only one proposal meets the
budget, but this is unlikely because it would reduce its leverage
during the negotiation process.
Singapore was planning to award a contract in August and begin
operating new primary trainers at Pearce airbase in Western
Australia from April 2008. But sources say contract negotiations
will likely spill into the fourth quarter and a final selection is
now expected towards year-end.
The air force has kept the April 2008 date for the start of the new
20-year training operation despite several delays in the
competition. Aermacchi, however, is offering to take over the
services current S211s in the interim if new M311s cannot be
delivered in time.
Singapore seeks a contractor team to supply about 7,000 block hours
per year, which will require an estimated 18 to 20 aircraft.
Aermacchi has teamed with Qantas Defence Services to provide
maintenance and Bombardier to supply training services. Hawker
Pacific will provide maintenance under Lockheeds PC-21 bid.
Elbit Systems backed the Super Tucano bid and Singapore
Technologies (ST Aero) is the prime for the T-6B proposal.
Sources say the evaluation team concluded the T-6Bs performance is
too low end for the requirement, but ST Aero is now trying to
persuade the air force to re-consider the evaluation, arguing the
solution is less risky.
Singapore would be the launch customer for the M311 or PC-21, while
the T-6A is operated by the USA, Singapores largest source for
defence equipment.
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