February 21, 2008

Exhibitors give organizers good grades in most subjects

By Thierry Dubois

The day after the opening of the first international airshow in Singapore since the migration of Asian Aerospace to Hong Kong, exhibitors here seemed more than happy with the new site and with the event’s organization. According to the companies AIN has surveyed, everything has gone quite smoothly during the setup process, except perhaps for an odd glitch here and there.

Access, more

---

SABR takes X-band radar a step further

By David Donald

Northrop Grumman’s Aerospace Systems Division revealed here yesterday the latest in its growing active electronically steered antenna (AESA) radar family. The Scalable Agile Beam Radar (SABR) builds on the company’s expertise of developing AESA radars for the F-22, F-35 and F-16 Block 60. New panel array technology and new tile architecture has resulted in a lighter and more affordable X-band rada more

---

India’s fighter shootout has the world’s eye

By David Donald and Chris Pocock

The technical and technology transfer bids for one of the biggest-ever fighter deals of recent times are due for delivery in 11 days time. Six prime contractors chase India’s Medium Multi-Role Combat Aircraft (MMRCA) requirement for 126 aircraft with an option for 64 more. The contenders are the Boeing F/A-18, Dassault Rafale, Eurofighter Typhoon, Lockheed Martin F-16, MiG-35 and Saab Gripen. The more

---

Taiwan to modernize indigenous fighter

By David Donald

AIDC’s modernization program for the F-CK-1 Indigenous Defense Fighter (IDF)–also known as the Ching-kuo–is nearing the end of its latest development period. Phase I of the development test and evaluation campaign came to an end in 2007, and Phase II should draw to a close by the end of this year.

A mid-life update program for the IDF began in 2001. At the heart of the modernization li more

---

Orders for Embraer E-Jets keep rolling in

By Paul Lowe

Brazil’s Embraer announced an order here yesterday from U.S. aircraft leasing company Jetscape for 10 E190 jets, along with options for another 10 aircraft and “purchase rights” for 10 more.

The value of the transaction totals $375 million at list prices, and could reach $1.125 billion if all options and purchase rights are exercised. Deliveries are scheduled to start in 2009.

more

---

Ready for duty, Fire Scout shipping out

By David Donald

The U.S. Navy revealed yesterday that the Northrop Grumman MQ-8B Fire Scout is to be temporarily “decoupled” from the Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) program. The decision was taken so that the MQ-8B can be fielded on schedule, despite delays to the LCS. The Navy remains committed to deploying the MQ-8B aboard LCS at some stage, but is migrating the Fire Scout to another class of vessel in the interim. more

---

BA609 certification effort shifts into a higher gear

By Thierry Dubois

Bell/Agusta Aerospace engineers working on the BA609 Tiltrotor have stepped up their certification efforts and now plan more than 100 hours of flight testing this year–a major acceleration over the 300 hours logged since 2003. However, the first flight of the third prototype faces yet another delay. Bell/Agusta now expects certification of the hybrid helicopter/airplane design in three years.
more

---

Airbus mulls 10-abreast A350XWB for AirAsia

By Julian Moxon

Airbus is studying 10-abreast seating for its A350WXB following interest from low-cost airlines including AirAsia, which has inquired a potential 25-aircraft order.
“Ten-abreast looks doable for AirAsia,” said Airbus chief operating officer-customers, John Leahy. “It would be at least as comfortable as the A330/A340 with nine-abreast seating.” Currently, the A350WXB is offered with eight-abr more

---

First KC-767 delivered to Japan as U.S. KC-X decision comes due

By Chris Pocock

Boeing delivered the first of four KC-767 Tankers to Japan yesterday, 15 months behind schedule. Before leaving U.S. airspace on a 14-hour ferry flight to Gifu airbase neat Nagoya, it flew in formation with the No. 2 airplane that will follow after the Japan Air Self-Defense Force completes a formal acceptance process.

The KC-767 is Boeing’s contender in the huge and politically charge more

---

Pair of Chinese fighter planes form PLAAF’s high-low mix

By David Donald

China’s march to overhaul its front-line fighter fleet is making good progress, thanks to two major indigenous production programs involving the Chengdu J-10 and Shenyang J-11 models. The Chengdu product is an all-Chinese design that is now entering service in numbers. The J-11 is a license-built Sukhoi Su-27 Flanker, which in its latest production version incorporates important Chinese components more

---