Friday, November 27, 2009

China Leaps Into Global Aircraft Market; Targets Russia’s Traditional Customer Base



Defense News

11/23/09

China Leaps Into Global Aircraft Market; Targets Russia’s Traditional Customer Base

By WENDELL MINNICK 



DUBAI — China’s push into the defense aviation market intensified at the 11th Dubai Air Show with an aggressive export marketing campaign for the new supersonic Hongdu L-15 Falcon advanced jet trainer.



The effort followed the announced sale of 36 new C

hengdu J-10 (FC-20) Vigorous Dragon fighter jets to Pakistan for $1.4 billion the previous week.



Past Chinese arms export efforts have always been politically sensitive. Chinese arms deals with Iran, Myanmar, Sudan and Zimbabwe reflected the same list of pariah states sanctioned for human rights violations.



At the Dubai show, China’s state-owned Aviation Industry Corp. (AVIC) appeared interested in moving beyond “pariah” and pulled out all the stops with its first news conference and flight demonstrations of its new L-15 outside China. The Nov. 16 conference was slick and sophisticated, a clear departure from previous awkward, or nonexistent, media efforts. The attempt was unprecedented for the Chinese defense industry.



AVIC officials speaking at the press conference included Wang Yawei, president of AVIC Defense; and the L-15’s chief architect, Zhang Hong, vice general manager of Hongdu Aviation Industry Group, an AVIC subsidiary.



Wang said AVIC had made sig­nificant strides in research and development of new aircraft and was anxious to explore the export market.



“The attendance of the L-15 is aimed at exploiting the international market,” he said. “There is a high demand of trainers of this type in the international market.” Wang declined to identify specific countries interested in the aircraft, but said discussions were ongoing with several potential customers.



The L-15 will face tough competition from other trainer jets, including Italy’s M­346, built by Alenia Aermacchi; Korea Aerospace Industries’ T-50; and Russia’s Yak-130, built by Yakovlev.



However, AVIC appears confident it can challenge these aircraft on the international market. “The L-15 is a new-generation 
advanced trainer that provides solutions for pilot training,” Zhang said. Missions include advanced, lead-in and companion training, and close-air support. The aircraft also will come in a lead-in fighter trainer variant.



The aircraft is “characterized by a modern aerodynamic configuration” and equipped with twin turbofan engines, a fly-by-wire system and a glass cockpit.



The Falcon is powered by two Ukrainian­built Ivchenko Progress AI-222K-25F jet engines with a performance speed of Mach 1.4, a service ceiling of 16,000 meters and a range of 3,100 kilometers. AVIC officials said they were working on a Chinese variant that would eventually replace the Ukrainian engine.



“The L-15 is a cost-effective replacement for old advanced jet trainers,” Zhang said. The aircraft is “capable of armed reconnaissance, defensive counter-air, close-air support and anti-terrorism” missions.



China appears to be directly challenging Russia for the export military aircraft market. A government official at the booth for Rosoboronexport, Russia’s state arms export agency, expressed frustration with the Chinese exhibition here.



“Everyone in the defense industry should be concerned about the Chinese push into the market,” he said. “They stole our Su-27 [J-11B], and now they want to export aircraft that are cheap copies of Russian aircraft.” It is clear the L-15 is a copy of the new Yak-130 advanced trainer, the Russian official said. Now, both will be competing for the international trainer market and are virtually identical, raising questions about claims made by Zhang, L-15’s chief architect, that the L-15 is an “original Chinese design.” But AVIC has yet to address intellectual property rights conflicts, and that could make many Chinese companies “gun-shy” on exporting what is clearly a Russian or European copy, said Larry Wortzel, vice chairman of the U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Commission in Washington.



The change in Chinese attitudes toward media and public relations efforts demonstrated here are partly driven by the reintegration of AVIC I and AVIC II into one entity in 2008, as the company pushes to expand export opportunities and streamline itself.



“The State Council devoted a great deal of effort to reshaping AVIC and revitalizing the company,” Wortzel said. “Clearly, as China has done in the automobile industry, they want to move into a competitive posture in the aviation industry,” such as military aircraft, training aircraft and systems, and civil aircraft. “This is a long-term effort,” he added.



AVIC originally was a single consortium of aerospace companies. But in 1999, the cor­poration was split, retaining its original title, in an attempt to modernize its manufacturing facilities and competitiveness.



AVIC I centered on complex fixed-wing aircraft such as fighters and bombers, and AVIC II on smaller fixed-wing aircraft and helicopters. The effort resulted in difficulties, and AVIC I/II merged back together last year.



“Under the reorganization of AVIC, I believe we can produce the next generation of aircraft in shorter time and with more capabilities,” Wang said. AVIC also has benefited from China’s booming economy and has expanded research and development into new aircraft and systems, he said.



AVIC’s modernization and export efforts will take time.


“As the companies that do assembly in China learned, there are still quality-control problems to address,” Wortzel said. “And even in co-production programs, which ultimately led to the Chinese-produced mid­capacity jet, there are problems like this.”

Despite the obvious copycat tendency of the Chinese defense industry, it is expected to begin making some inroads into the export market. China and Pakistan jointly produce and market the K-8 (JL-8) basic/advanced jet trainer, which also appeared at the Dubai Air Show. The K-8 has been exported to 12 countries in Africa, South America and Southeast Asia.



With the L-15, China over the next decade “may be able to pick off the lower end of the market in poorer countries” where Russia has a traditional foothold, Wortzel said.


AVIC officials manning the booth said there were discussions on bringing the L-15 to the Singapore Air Show in February and the Paris Air Show in 2011.



The AVIC booth exhibited an L-15 flight simulator and models of aircraft and weapon systems, including the L-15, the FC­1 (JF-17) multirole fighter, the FTC-2000 supersonic advanced trainer and the ASN-209 UAV.



The multirole ASN-209 is a medium-altitude, medium-endurance UAV that can be outfitted with a synthetic aperture radar, a ground moving-target indication sensor, a communications relay system and an electronic warfare system.



Models of weapon systems for aircraft in­cluded the winged 500-kilogram LS-6 Thunder Stone standoff strike weapon and the SD­10A (PL-12) medium-range air-to-air missile.



With a wingspan of about 9 feet, the Thunder Stone can be mounted on a 440­kilogram bomb. From a launch altitude of 800 meters, the system can glide 48 kilometers, and from 11,000 meters it can glide 60 kilometers. The system finished final testing in October 2005 and was first displayed at the 2006 Zhuhai Air Show.



The SD-10A is a fourth-generation missile similar in configuration to the Raytheon AIM-120 AMRAAM. The 199-kilogram SD­10A has an operational altitude of 21 kilometers with a range of 70 kilometers at Mach 5.

Saab wins interim AEW deal, but competition continues

Defense News

11/18/09

SHOW SCOUT

Dubai Airshow 2009

Saab wins interim AEW deal, but competition continues

By Andrew Chuter and Wendell Minnick

Dubai – Saab may have won a deal with the UAE to supply an interim airborne early warning and control aircraft, but the main event, a battle between Boeing, Northrop Grumman and Saab to provide a long-term solution, continues.

The Swedish supplier stole an advantage over its rivals when the UAE announced today it was acquiring two Saab 340 turboprops equipped with the Erieye radar to allow the air force to train and gain operational experience of AEW.

The Saab 340’s big brother, the Saab 2000 Erieye active phased array system, is one of three competitors in the long-running AEW&C competition in the UAE.

Boeing is offering the 737 equipped with Northrop Grumman’s new Multi-role Electronically Scanned Array (MESA) system.

Northrop is also pushing the new E-2D Advanced Hawkeye now being flight-tested by the U.S. Navy.

Maj. Gen. Faris Al Mazrouei, the UAE Army logistics chief who announced the deal, made it clear though that in his opinion, neither the Boeing nor the Northrop offerings were at a stage where a decision could be reached on a winning platform.

Boeing had suffered technical deliveries on the 737 MESA platform it was delivering to Australia, while Northrop’s E-2D machine had yet to be fielded by the U.S. Navy, he said.

The first of the Australian platforms, known as the Wedgetail, are about to be delivered after a long delay.

The Saab 340 deal will see both aircraft delivered in little more than a year.

James Culmo, Northrop’s vice president and program officer for the AEW program, said the company was also in discussions with India for the E-2Ds.

“The UAE decision is expected in 2010 for four aircraft with an option for a fifth,” said John Beaulieu, U.S. Navy, business development manager for the E-2/C-2 program.


E-2C on Display at Dubai

The E-2D offers radar modes including air and sea surface capability. Radar modes include airborne early warning, surveillance, enhanced sector scanning and enhanced tracking capability.

The Hawkeye platform also has the capability to deal with the increasing threat posed by cruise missiles.

Northrop Grumman also sees a large market for its new MESA airborne early warning and control (AEW&C) aircraft, said John Johnson, vice president and general manager, Northrop Grumman’s Aerospace Systems Division.

MESA would meet UAE needs for a complete airborne early warning and control solution. “The UAE would be an ideal candidate for the system,” Johnson said.

MESA meets regional C2ISR challenges and answers demanding airborne and ground Moving Target Indicator (MTI), Indications and Warning (I&W), and maritime surveillance requirements.

The radar uses a multirole electronically scanned dorsal antenna that radiates left and right 60 degrees and back and front 30 degrees. “You can track over a hundred targets,” said Northrop’s Paul “Buzz” Kalafos, vice resident, International Infrastructure Systems, Electronic Systems.

“Mechanical radars have more breakdowns,” he said. MESA is the next generation of airborne radars that will eventually replace mechanical round airborne radars.

With a range of 300 nautical miles and a line of sight at 40,000 feet altitude, MESA has multiple surveillance modes that include an airborne mode that covers cruise missiles, fighters, helicopters; maritime mode for fast patrol boats and large vessels like frigates; dedicated track beam mode; and Indications Friend or Foe (IFF) mode.

The radar can also project further into a threat sector while maintaining 360-degree coverage.

According to Northrop’s PowerPoint presentation, MESA coverage from UAE airspace covers most of southern Iran.

The system “provides for gap filler capabilities for lack of coverage or loss of forward EW radars,” Johnson said. MESA can work with Global Hawk unmanned aerial vehicles and fire control radars.

Australia is set to receive two aircraft next week, and the program with Turkey for four systems is now moving forward after overcoming earlier problems.

The Turkish air force ordered four systems under the Peace Eagle program under a deal with local Turkish aerospace companies for parts production, assembly and aircraft modification.

In November 2006, South Korea ordered four systems in a $1.6 contract with Boeing and Northrop. They are set for delivery in 2012.

Saab has sold the Erieye to Brazil, Greece, Pakistan, Sweden and Thailand. The customers have used Saab turboprop or Embraer jet platforms.

Northrop has sold hundreds of Hawkeye E-2 variants to numerous customers including the U.S. Navy, France, Japan and Egypt.

Pakistan Shows Off K-8 Trainer for Export


Defense News

11/17/09

SHOW SCOUT

Dubai Airshow 2009

Pakistan Shows Off K-8 Trainer for Export

By Wendell Minnick

Dubai – Pakistan Aeronautical Complex (PAC) showed off its K-8 Karakorum two-seat intermediate jet trainer and light attack aircraft at the Dubai Air Show along with models of its newest fighter, the JF-17 Thunder, which is under production.


PAC hopes to expand exports of the K-8 in the region, said Air Marshal Farhat Hussain Khan, PAC chairman. The aircraft are already serving in the Egyptian Air Force and the K-8 is a cost-effective trainer solution. “We do joint sales and marketing with our Chinese partners.”

The K-8 is a joint Chinese Aviation Industry Corporation (AVIC) and PAC program, as is the JF-17, he said. The Chinese variant of the trainer is the JL-8 and the fighter is the FC-1.

He confirmed reports that Pakistan will procure the Chinese-built Chengdu FC-20 fighter, an export version of the J-10 fighter. However, PAC will not participate in the co-production of the FC-20 program, Farhat Hussain said.

PAC began series production of the JF-17 this year and expects to roll out its first aircraft by the end of this month.

“We have an initial order from the Pakistan Air Force for 150, but we expect it to go to upwards of 250 JF-17s,” he said. After that, PAC hopes to begin exporting the fighter.

The JF-17 is a multi-role combat supersonic fighter equipped with both a beyond-visual-range and within-visual-range dog fighting capability. Besides supersonic, it has sub-transonic maneuverability.

It is equipped with a state-of-the-art digital glass cockpit with three large, full-color Multi-Function Displays (MFD), digital moving map, Helmet Mounted Display, hands-on approach and a wide angle Smart Heads-Up Display (SHUD).

The primary sensor of the target acquisition and weapon aiming system is the multi-mode pulse Doppler radar. It also offers look-down performance and electronic counter-counter measures capability.

Despite media reports the JF-17 has suffered setbacks trying to resolve the acquisition of an engine for the aircraft the Russian-built RD-93 engines have been outfitted on the aircraft without problems, Farhat Hussain said. “The media created the issue, it was not true.”

PAC has no plans to develop an indigenous engine or avionics system for the aircraft at this time, he said. “We have no desire of becoming engine producers,” he said.

The aircraft has a maximum speed of 1.6 mach with a service ceiling of 16,700 meters and a ferry range with drop tanks of 3,000 kilometers. The weapons systems are a mix of Chinese and Pakistani systems.

Boeing Reaches Milestone on NC3S Project Vigilare


Defense News

11/17/09

SHOW SCOUT

Dubai Airshow 2009

Boeing Reaches Milestone on NC3S Project Vigilare

By Wendell Minnick

Dubai – Boeing announced Nov. 17 that Project Vigilare, a Network Centric Command and Control System (NC3S) solution in Australia, had completed two major milestones. The first is a data transmission with a Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) F/A-18 Hornet using Link 16 technology, and the second is the development

of its record and replay feature.

“These key capabilities will deliver significant benefits to the Australian Defense Force,” said Rod Drury, Boeing Defense Australia (BDA), vice president of Strategy and Business Development. “Our NC3S product line, of which the Australian solution is provided under Project Vigilare, continues to strengthen Boeing’s position as a global developer of advanced defense technology.”

Boeing is in discussions with South Korea on the NC3S and recently met with government officials at the Seoul Airshow, Drury said.

Besides Australia, Malaysia also has NC3S program set up at Headquarters Integrated Area Defense System, which “supports Five Power Defense Arrangements joint operations,” he said. “It was delivered in June 2004 at Royal Malaysian Air Force Base Butterworth.”

“Vigilare provides Australian Defense Force with enhanced surveillance and battle-space management capability.” It is being “progressively developed to the RAAF from 2009-2010,” he said.

The Vigilare’s Link 16 capability will allow the RAAF to securely transfer and receive critical tactical data to and from RAAF platforms, such as the Boeing 737 Wedgetail AEW&C aircraft.

The Wedgetail is equipped with Northrop Grumman’s new Multi-role Electronically Scanned Array (MESA). The first two aircraft are set for delivery to Australia next week. Australia has on order six Wedgetail aircraft.

Boeing will conduct a follow-on NC3S capability demonstration for Australia in early 2010, in which a Wedgetail will transmit data using Link 16 to the Vigilare system at the Northern Regional Operations Center (NorthROC).

The record and replay capability will improve operator training and mission planning by allowing console operators to replay real and simulated scenarios to multiple operator consoles simulators simultaneously, separately or concurrently with an active NC3S system.

The feature operates in two modes: role replication or video replay, in which the operator can replay missions, and interactive replay, in which the operator can interact with the replay and manipulate the replayed data and voice set to explore different outcomes.

Russia-China Aluminum Deal Raises Eyebrows

Defense News

11/16/09

Russia-China Aluminum Deal Raises Eyebrows

By WENDELL MINNICK 



TAIPEI — An aluminum deal between China and Russia is raising questions after China North Industries Corp. (NORINCO), one of China’s biggest defense companies, announced plans to import 1.68 million tons of aluminum from Russian-based United Company (UC) RUSAL from 2010 to 2016.



NORINCO subsidiary Shenzhen North Investment (SZNORTH) signed a long-term electrolytic aluminum supply contract with UC RUSAL on Oct. 28 in Beijing. NOR­INCO President Zhao Gang, UC RUSAL CEO Oleg Deripaska and Zhang Zhenyu, vice director of Evaluation Bureau II for the China Development Bank, attended the contract-signing ceremony.



“The signing of the contract will help consolidate the rapidly developing economic and trade relations between China and Russia and play an important role in stabilizing SZNORTH’s upstream supply channels in the future,” a NORINCO news release said.



NORINCO is one of China’s key weapon manufacturers, producing everything from main battle tanks to small arms. UC RUSAL is the world’s largest aluminum and alumina producer in the world, accounting for 11 percent of the aluminum and 13 percent of the alumina for the international market. Observers are questioning NORINCO’s need for Russian aluminum, since China already produces the metal and exports its excess. The reasons appear to be both economic and strategic.



UC RUSAL has been experiencing serious financial problems, with $16.8 billion in foreign currency debt, and the Siberian plant’s proximity to China makes transportation cheap, said Vasily Kashin, a Moscow-based defense specialist.



The company “desperately needs big long­term deals, such as this NORINCO contract,” he said. “The financial details of the deal are not known, but it’s possible that NORINCO, knowing well about RUSAL’s difficulties, managed to get a much better price than it could get on the Chinese internal market.” China is providing the financing for the deal. In a NORINCO news release, Deripaska expressed gratitude to NORINCO for its initiative to operate the financing project of UC RUSAL and China Development Bank. He said that UC RUSAL is in the final procedures for getting listed in Hong Kong.



“There’s obviously something very funny going on about the deal,” said a U.S. defense analyst who spoke on condition of anonymity. “There is no rationale for the Chinese to buy aluminum; 90 percent of the making of aluminum is in energy costs, so the Chinese are saving costs in energy.” UC RUSAL has not shied away from investing in and dealing with China. In 2006, the company purchased a cathode plant in Shanxi, in northeastern China, that produces cathode blocks used as components in the production of aluminum. UC RUSAL says its Chinese plant provides a guaranteed supply of cathode blocks for its production facilities in Russia. The China plant supplies UC RUSAL smelters to provide 50 percent of the 30,000 tons needed a3nnually.



China has been keen to diversify its access to strategic metals and raw materials, and the defense industry has played a leading role in this effort, said Tai Ming Cheung, author of the book, “Fortifying China: The Struggle to Build a Modern Defense Economy.”

“China is one of the leading aluminum producers in the world, but is also a major consumer, and acquiring stable foreign sources is important in these efforts,” he said. “NORINCO has been active in signing agreements for extractive resources in Central Asia and other parts of the world, so this move to secure long-term foreign aluminum supplies fits in with this strategy.” Procuring such large amounts of aluminum is not intended just to supply the defense sector, “but will allow NORINCO to sell it in the domestic market,” he said.

Interview - Hyo-Koo Lee, President LIG Nex1

Defense News

11/16/09

By Wendell Minnick, Seoul

INTERVIEW: HYO-KOO LEE

President and COO, LIG Nex1

LIG Nex1 develops and produces a wide range of advanced precision electronic systems, including missile, underwater weapon, radar, electronic warfare, avionics, tactical communication, fire control, naval combat and electro-optic systems. As well as developing new weapons for South Korea’s military, the company is rapidly expanding into the export market.

Leading that effort since 2007 is Hyo-Koo Lee, the company’s president and chief operating officer (COO). Lee said that over the next ten years he wants LIG Nex1 to become a “global top-tier company, as we announced as our company goal during our Vision 2020 ceremony. In order to reach such a goal, I believe that LIG Nex1 must find the answer in increasing exports.”

Q. Tell us about your company.

A. LIG Nex1 works in close cooperation with not only the [South] Korean military but also the Defense Acquisition Program Administration [DAPA] and the Agency for Defense Development [ADD] to spearhead the development of indigenous state-of-the-art weapons in various fields, such as precision guided munitions, C4ISR, electronic warfare and avionics. LIG Nex1 has been a crucial component to [South] Korea’s efforts in ensuring an independent national defense capability, and has participated in the development of nine of the ADD’s top 10 defense products of 2008.

LIG Nex1 has put great emphasis on ensuring the quality and reliability of all our products by investing in … environmental testing equipment and facilities, as well as establishing the Reliability Center.



Our efforts have resulted in LIG Nex1 winning the grand prize in the 2004 Department of Defense Quality Inspection, which is a testament to our commitment towards the quality and service of our weapon systems.



We also established the Modeling and Simulation [M&S] Research Center in February so that we may speedily react to the ever­changing battlefield environment.



Through a system of thorough preliminary simulation/inspection and the organic cooperation of each of our research branches, LIG Nex1’s M&S Research Center has enabled us to stay ahead of the pack in the research arena. 



Q. What is the company’s strategy in dealing with the worldwide economic downturn?



A. LIG Nex1 sees the downturn not just as a threat, but more as an opportunity. Through aggressive investments in R&D [research and development], we are continually researching new technologies to prepare for future businesses. LIG Nex1 is also working in close cooperation with numerous world-class defense companies in infrastructure investments, technology acquisition and weapon system production to expand our horizons. 



Q. How do your projected 2009 numbers compare with 2008 revenue figures and sales? What percentage is defense versus commercial sales?



A. LIG Nex1 led the [South] Korean defense market in 2008 with revenue of approximately 850 billion Korean won ($728.7 million), and we expect an increase of over 100 billion Korean won this year in our revenue figures.



Due to the fact that LIG Nex1 is a dedicated defense company, our commercial sector accounts for about 1 percent of our total revenue. But in order to maintain our growth, LIG Nex1 will continue to focus on the export of our commercial solutions as well. 



Q. What product lines are most in demand at home and abroad? Where do you see future growth?



A. LIG Nex1 is the only company in [South] Korea which offers total solutions for all three branches of the military. Our business scope covers C4I, ISR [intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance], PGM [precision guided munitions], electronic warfare and avionics, and of the five areas, the PGM sector has seen the highest demand.



LIG Nex1 is continually investing in and developing other business areas, such as future warfare and autonomous unmanned systems, to ensure that we will continue to lead the [South] Korean defense industry.



Although it is well-recognized that in order to overcome the limitation of the domestic defense market, one must cultivate the export market, due to the unique dynamics of the defense industry, one cannot compete in the world market using a generalized export strategy. To maximize exports while avoiding competition with market-leading defense companies, LIG Nex1 has been actively promoting exports of communications equipment to Southeast Asian countries. Through continual development of new technologies as well as localization of the above-mentioned technologies, LIG Nex1 plans to increase not only our export volume, but also our market coverage.



As an example, LIG Nex1 is now developing the first domestically designed ship-to-air missiles, as well as the domestically designed radar for the KAI TA/FA-50 advanced fighter trainer. Through the acquisition of indigenous technologies, we hope to increase our competitiveness even more in the world market and thus increase our exports. We will continue to invest not just in the development of technologies, but in continued exchanges with domestic and global industrial/academic institutions. 



Q. What is the company’s 10-year plan?



A. LIG Nex1 recently announced our goal to become a top-tier defense company by 2020 under the slogan of “true dream partner.” To achieve this goal, we plan to increase our stronghold in the field of precision electronic solutions as well as expand our overseas business. We will also invest in future warfare and autonomous unmanned systems to maintain an edge over our competitors.



Through strategic outsourcing, we intend to increase the efficiency of our business as well. 



Q. What about R&D?

A. It would not be a stretch to say that LIG Nex1’s continual growth to this point has been due to our focus and investments in R&D. We will continue our dedication to the development not only of new technologies but also to the nurturing and developing of our human resources. Of the 2,500 or so employees currently under LIG Nex1’s umbrella, the R&D personnel account for about 35 percent.

We are also investing over 21 percent of our total revenue in R&D.



Q. How has the company changed under your leadership?



A. To ensure the continual growth of the business, a coaching leadership was utilized, which paved the way to LIG Nex1’s No. 1 position in the [South] Korean defense industry today.



But now we must look to the future and to the world, and to accomplish this feat, both the management and the employees must work under a common goal. I intend to be at the forefront of that change leading by example, utilizing a future-oriented leadership.



I guess I would like to be remembered as the person who brought growth to LIG Nex1. I would like to think that 10 years from now, LIG Nex1 will have be3­come a global top-tier company. In order to reach such a goal, I believe that LIG Nex1 must find the answer in increasing exports.



I guess this sentiment is a common one for any CEO in the defense industry, but with the continual advancements and growth we have recently shown, I believe that this goal is not an unreachable one. No one can predict the future, but I feel that if all our employees continue down the path that we have been laying down, 10 years from now, my wishes of being remembered as the person who brought growth to LIG Nex1 will be realized. 



Q. What are the South Korean defense industry’s strengths and weaknesses?



A. The industry has traditionally been concentrating on keeping pace with North Korea and other nearby countries through the relatively short-term procurement of foreign goods through such programs as the U.S. Foreign Military Sales program. Domestic R&D has also been led by government agencies, weakening the individual companies’ ability to independently develop technologies. This has widened the gap between [South] Korean defense companies and their foreign counterparts.



Although the defense market and the battlefields of the future continue to change, the growth of the defense industry here is almost at a saturation point.



The [South] Korean defense market has recently been changing so that it can grow to reach the next level. The establishment of the DAPA in 2006 has led to many policy changes in the government’s stand on defense exports, such as the opening of doors so that any defense company can participate in government programs, the promotion of company-led R&D, as well as the increase of R&D funding. These changes have acted as a motivation to the domestic defense industry, as well as increasing the industry’s R&D capability.



The governmental policies to promote and strengthen exports are also motivating companies to follow suit. I believe that these types of changes in government policies will act as a foundation on which the [South] Korean defense industry can grow. 



Q. Can you tell me about the Rolling Air­frame Missile (RAM) business?



A. The domestic development of the RAM is being carried out with technological support from U.S.­based Raytheon. It is significant in that this type of weapon solution is a first for [South] Korea. We also believe that this will act as a springboard for the future indigenous development of a defense system against anti-ship missiles.



We recently held a rollout ceremony at our Gumi factory with guests from the [South] Korean Navy, DAPA, the Defense Agency for Technology and Quality and Raytheon attending.



As you well know, the RAM is a point-defense weapon against anti­ship cruise missiles. The Navy is planning to equip our destroyers and Landing Platform eXperimental ships with the RAM system, which will increase operational effectiveness in any combat condition. ■ 



China’s L-15 Falcon Debuts at Dubai


Defense News

11/16/09

SHOW SCOUT

Dubai Airshow 2009

China’s L-15 Falcon Debuts at Dubai


AVIC Defence President Wang Yawei speaks during a news conference at the Dubai Air Show. Thomas Brown / Staff

By Wendell Minnick

Dubai – China debuted its new L-15 Falcon advanced jet trainer (AJT) at the Dubai Air Show, marking the first time the aircraft has been shown to the public outside of China.

Chinese officials from China Aviation Industry Corporation (AVIC) gave a rare press conference on the L-15 AJT on Nov. 16. AVIC defense president Wang Yawei said the company had made strides in research and development of new aircraft and was anxious to explore the export market.

“The attendance of the L-15 is aimed at exploiting the international market,” he said. “There is a high demand of trainers of this type in the international market.”

Developed by the Hongdu Aviation Industry Group, an AVIC subsidiary, the Falcon is a multi-purpose supersonic jet trainer. L-15’s chief architect, Zhang Hong, Hongdu vice general manager, said Falcon missions include advanced training, lead-in training, companion training and close air support. The aircraft will also come in a Lead-In Fighter Trainer (LIFT) and Companion Trainer variant.

“The L-15 is a new generation advanced trainer that provides solutions for pilot training,” Zhang said. The aircraft is “characterized by a modern aerodynamic configuration” and equipped with twin turbofan engines, fly-by-wire system and a glass cockpit.

The Falcon is powered by two Ukrainian-built Ivchenko Progress AI-222K-25F engines with a performance speed of Mach 1.4, a service ceiling of 16,000 meters and a range of 3,100 kilometers.

“The L-15 is a cost-effective replacement for old advanced jet trainers, an excellent platform to accumulate flight experience for pilots,” Zhang said. The aircraft is “capable of armed reconnaissance, defensive counter-air, close air support and anti-terrorism” missions.

AVIC officials denied the L-15 had appeared at the Moscow Air Show (MAKS 2009) in August, despite Internet blog reports the aircraft was exhibited. ”We had a model at the booth at Moscow, not the aircraft itself,” an AVIC official said Nov. 18, responding to confusion over the issue.

The news conference Nov. 16 was a surprisingly slick presentation for a company that has traditionally shied away from the media spotlight. Wang said the company would be exhibiting more advanced military aircraft at future international aviation shows. AVIC officials manning the booth said there were discussions on bringing the L-15 to the upcoming Singapore Air Show in February 2010 and the follow-on Paris Air Show in 2011.

AVIC officials manning the booth appeared relaxed and comfortable talking about their product line, a clear departure from previous aerospace and defense shows in the past, where company officials turned away media inquiries.

The AVIC booth displayed models and brochures on a variety of new aircraft and weapons systems, including the FTC-2000 supersonic advanced trainer, CZ-11MB1 light multi-purpose helicopter (Z-11 variant), the K-8 Karakorum jet trainer, the FC-1/JF-17 Thunder multi-role fighter. Aircraft weapons systems included the winged 500-kg LS-6 standoff strike weapon and the SD-10A medium-range air-to-air missile. The SD-10A is a fourth-generation missile similar in configuration to the Raytheon AMRAAM AIM-120 missile. The 199-kg SD-10A has an operational altitude of 21 km with a range of 70 km at Mach 5.

The K-8 and the FC-1/JF-17 are joint aircraft development programs involving AVIC and the Pakistan Aeronautical Complex (PAC). The K-8 was also on display at the show by PAC.

In a K-8 brochure, AVIC identified the engine outfitting the aircraft as a “proven Honeywell TFE-731-2A-2A turbofan engine,” but in a reference to the Chinese Hongdu JL-8 variant, it has a “flexible option for Ukraine [Ivchenko] AI-25TL turbofan engine.” The U.S. restricts the sale of equipment to China for use by the military.

AVIC has benefited from China’s booming economy and has expanded research and development of new aircraft and systems, Wang said. AVIC is also developing a new “200 ton military cargo aircraft” expected to be unveiled in December. The program is being jointly developed by AVIC and Xi’an Aircraft Industry Group.

In November 2008, the company reintegrated AVIC I and AVIC II into one entity in the hope of expanding opportunities in the export market and streamlining the company, he said.

AVIC was originally one consortium of aerospace companies, but in 1999 the corporation was split, retaining its original title, in an attempt to modernize its manufacturing facilities and competitiveness. AVIC I centered on sophisticated fixed-wing aircraft like fighters and bombers and AVIC II focused on smaller fixed-wing aircraft and helicopters. However, the effort resulted in difficulties and AVIC I/II merged back together last year.

Raytheon Promoting Maverick ‘Fly Before You Buy’ Deal

Defense News

11/16/09

SHOW SCOUT

Dubai Airshow 2009

Raytheon Promoting Maverick ‘Fly Before You Buy’ Deal

By Wendell Minnick

Dubai – Raytheon is offering a “fly-before-you-buy” deal for the new AGM-65H/K Maverick air-to-ground missile for the Middle East market.

“We’ve developed a replacement for the legacy TV-guided Maverick, the Maverick H/K,” said Mark Larson, Maverick business development manager for Raytheon Missile Systems.

Larson said the company is offering customers a loan option.

“We’ll loan an H/K seeker to countries with the TV-guided Maverick in their

inventory. They can put the upgraded seeker on their own aircraft, and do a side-by-side comparison with the TV-guided variant.”

Raytheon has already done this in East Asia and the “feedback … has been very positive.”

There is now interest in the “fly-before-you-buy” program in the Middle East.

The H/K uses a charge couple device seeker, which enables aviators to acquire the target at significantly greater distances then possible with the older Mavericks.

“We’ve also done software upgrades to the H/K’s seeker, which improves target lock-on capability, particularly with shadows near the intended target.”

“A large number of countries in the Middle East currently have Maverick in their inventories, but the systems are often legacy systems,” Larson said.

The system is modular and the center and aft section, basically the warhead and rocket motor, have an “indefinite service life.”

“Instead of buying an entirely new missile and paying for integration, training and the cost of establishing a new logistics base,” Larson suggests simply upgrading the older Maverick’s guidance and control section. This allows the customer to get an enhanced capability at a “fraction” of the price tag of a new missile.

“We want people attending the Dubai Air Show to know that with the new upgrades we’re offering and Raytheon’s track record of total life-cycle support, Maverick can offer the war fighter a great deal of combat-proven capability at a very affordable price.”

Maverick is integrated on more than 25 platforms in 33 countries, and has been used in combat more than 6,000 times with a 93 percent success rate.