Source : Strait Times (Note: Aisa1 Web Link available for only 3
days
Battle' in the sky for $2b Mindef deal
F-15 Strike Eagle and Dassault Rafale to take part in intensive
flight trials after airshow to prove the planes work well in S'pore
weather
By David Boey
DON'T be surprised to see warplanes like the F-15 Strike Eagle or
Dassault Rafale roaring through Singapore skies weeks after the
Asian Aerospace airshow winds up this weekend.
These jet fighters, flown here for the airshow, will remain for
flight tests, part of the last few rounds left in a three-cornered
battle with the Eurofighter Typhoon for a $2-billion deal to
replace Singapore's ageing A-4 Super Skyhawks.
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During the trials, the new fighters are expected to be pitted
against front-line aircraft of the Republic of Singapore Air Force
(RSAF), like the F-16C/D and upgraded F-5 Tiger II.
The Defence Ministry told The Straits Times yesterday that 20 new
fighters will be bought in two batches once a decision is made next
year. 'In the first stage, we intend to acquire between eight and
12 aircraft, with the remainder to be acquired over the subsequent
five years,' said a spokesman.
Defence contractors vying for the deal are pulling out all the
stops for what could well be the last major fighter deal in the
Asia-Pacific this decade.
Mindef's evaluation is now at a crucial stage. The upcoming flight
tests are designed in part to convince Mindef that the warplanes
work as advertised in Singapore weather.
As such, French defence contractor Dassault is sending a
single-seat Rafale to join the twin-seater already here, for the
intensive flight trials lasting about three weeks.
Two F-15s are also expected to remain here for similar
trials.
The Typhoon could not make it down for the airshow, as the few
Typhoons produced are still being evaluated by air forces in
Britain, Germany, Italy and Spain, explained a BAE Systems
spokesman. But it will be seen over Singapore skies around June for
the trials, in its first trip outside Europe.
He said: 'While we would be delighted to see Europe's newest swing
role combat aircraft displaying alongside established airshow
stalwarts such as F-16, F-15 and Rafale, our priorities must lie
with the evaluation programme.'
At the airshow yesterday, the marketing men from three companies
were hard at work. Mr Thomas Lillis, Asia-Pacific director of
Boeing's integrated defence system, minced no words when he said
the F-15 was clearly superior to its rivals and 'has proven itself
in combat'. He said 48 F-15s destroyed 60 per cent of Saddam
Hussein's elite Republican Guard division during the Iraq war last
year.
Selling the F-15's range and speed, he added: 'We're faster, we go
farther and we carry more (weapons)... From a customer who wants to
use this airplane either as a deterrent or in actual combat, it's
pretty lethal.'
The Typhoon may not be battle-tested, but its makers hope to swing
the deal by pledging that 'export customers' may be allowed to make
certain components of the plane.
'We're prepared to give a full technology transfer,' said Mr Mike
Rouse, group marketing director at BAE Systems, who explained that
this sweetener would bring top-tier aerospace know-how to the
customer's aviation industry.
The significance of deal sweeteners has not been lost on the
French, who have indicated that Singapore could develop an advanced
radar for the Rafale - if it bought the aircraft.
Other incentives would include greater access to air force training
areas in France, where an RSAF A-4 training squadron is already
based.
Mindef's intention to announce a winner next year means Asian
Aerospace 2004 will be the last chance for the three plane makers
to woo the home crowd.
The result: four F-15 Strike Eagles at the airshow (the largest
ever contingent of F-15s at the event), piles of colourful warplane
posters, glossy brochures, CDs with plane images, and an assortment
of aircraft keepsakes like pins, caps, badges and scarfs to keep
souvenir hunters happy.
The Rafale and F-15 will also take to the skies off Changi Point
during the airshow's daily aerial display to show off their
manoeuvrability. Catch them between 11.30am and 1pm till Saturday
and between 11.30am and 1.10pm on Sunday.
