Singapore over the next several years, plans to buy refueling tankers, strategic military transport aircraft and aircraft patrol aircraft base. According to "Aviation Week" in the 2011 defense budget reached 12.1 billion Singapore Singapore dollars (9.6 billion USD), accounting for 26% of the national budget and about 5% of GDP. Such a country military spending can implement large-scale program for the purchase of military hardware.
Singapore started the search for a replacement for the armament of four Air Force KC-135R tankers in the past year. DoD has conducted preliminary discussions on the delivery of new refueling aircraft from several manufacturers. The tender to be announced this year and pick a winner in early 2013.
One of the main reasons for purchasing a flight software needs to support F-15SG fighter aircraft between Singapore and the U.S. Air Force air base, "Mountain Home" (sht.Aydaho), where pilots are trained Singaporean. Fighters F-16C / D in Singapore Air Force airbase located on the "Luke" (sht.Arizona).
Close ties between Singapore and the U.S. Air Force suggests that the tender could become a favorite of the company, "Boeing" with the KC-46A. However, "Boeing" must pass 18 U.S. Air Force KC-46A in 2017, and will not be able to put these aircraft for export before 2018, which is unlikely to suit Singapore.
In this regard, according to industry executives familiar with the situation, the favorite in this competition at the moment is "Airbus Militaire" with A-330 MRTT. Officials from the Royal Australian Air Force during the LIMA-2011 exhibition reported that the Air Force Singapore are interested in A-330 MRTT, and asked for an Australian aircraft to show "Singapore eyrshou-2012", but the request was denied.
In addition to the main contenders, the tenderer may be division "Bedek" Company "Israel Aerospace Industries" (IAI), which has extensive experience in retrofitting aircraft "Boeing 767" in air refuellers.
Second on the list of priority acquisitions is the purchase of strategic military transport aircraft. Currently, the Air Force in Singapore operate five high MTC C-130H "Hercules", which is not enough to ensure that tasks assigned to them.
To date, Singapore is considering the acquisition of A-400M "Grizzly" Company "Airbus Militaire 'and C-17" Globemaster-3 "" Boeing ".
In addition, Singapore is planning to replace the obsolete nine maritime aircraft "Fokker 50", which is associated with the growth of submarine fleets in neighboring countries. ASW aircraft for delivery claim "Alenia" with the ATR-42MP, "Boeing" with P-8A "Poseidon" and "Israel Aerospace Industries '/' Elta Systems," with the "Bombardier" Q400. It is also an option for the purchase P-3C "Orion" company "Lockheed Martin", but then he retired from the list of applicants.
In addition, Singapore continues to evaluate opportunities multifunctional fifth generation fighter F-35 "Lightning 2" in the framework of the purchase of aircraft for the next generation of national air forces. The final choice must be made within the next few years.
Singapore joined the JSF program in February 2003, two weeks after a similar step was taken by Israel. However, while Israel was in October last year signed an agreement worth 2.75 billion dollars for the purchase of 20 F-35s, Singapore claims that is not yet ready to assume such obligations.
As reported earlier, Singapore's Ministry of Defense planned to officially announce its decision on the F-35 this year.
Post A Comment:
0 comments:
Post a Comment