Defense
News
Singapore
Airshow Raises Fighter Industry Stakes in Asia
02/06/2012
By
WENDELL MINNICK
TAIPEI
— The biennial 2012 Singapore Airshow, Feb. 14-19, the largest aerospace event
in Asia and now among the world’s top three aviation events, will focus on
regional fighter programs in Australia, Japan, Malaysia, South Korea and
Taiwan.
Japan’s
December decision to procure the Lockheed Martin F-35A fighter for its F-X
program has given the Lightning II a boost in the region, despite reluctance within
the Western market for the fighter. The $8 billion deal for 42 fighters will
replace Japan’s aging Mitsubishi F-4EJ Kai Phantoms. The deal could evolve into
an additional 100 to 120 F-35s to replace the Mitsubishi F-15J/DJ Eagles under
the F-XX program in the middle of the decade.
The F-X program selected the F-35A over the Eurofighter Typhoon and
Boeing F/A-18 Super Hornet.
South
Korea has taken notice of Japan’s decision and the F-35 is seen increasingly in
a favorable light, officials said. South Korea’s FX-3 fighter competition pits
three fighters, the F-35A, Boeing F-15SE Silent Eagle and the Typhoon, in a
$7.3 billion deal for 40 to 60 fighters. A decision is scheduled to be made in
October.
Singapore
is also considering the F-35 for its next fighter procurement. The nation-state
is a Security Cooperative Participant member of the F-35 development program. However, officials said no decision is expected
within this decade.
But
the F-35 program hit a snag Down Under. Australia has just announced a review
of its procurement of the F-35A and could defer the purchase until problems in
the program are fixed. Australia has a requirement for up to 100 F-35A
fighters, but has committed only to the first 14. Australia is a Level 2
participant in the F-35 development program.
Malaysia
is debating the procurement of 10 fighters to replace MiG-29s. The Saab Gripen,
Typhoon and Super Hornet are competing, but no decision is expected until after
2013.
BAE
Systems and Lockheed are locking horns for the avionics upgrade and weapon
systems integration on 135 KF-16C/D Block 52 fighters for the South Korean Air
Force, estimated at $1 billion, and on 146 F-16A/B Block 20s for the Taiwan Air
Force, estimated at $5.8 billion.
Both
F-16 upgrade programs include the new Active Electronically Scanned Array
(AESA) radar. AESA competitors for the refits are Northrop Grumman’s Scalable
Agile Beam Radar and the Raytheon Advanced Combat Radar. Singapore is also a
potential customer for the AESA for its F-16C/Ds and is watching both
competitions closely.
The
Jan. 31 announcement that the French Dassault Rafale defeated the Typhoon in
India’s $11 billion contract for 126 fighter aircraft will spark discussion.
If
Eurofighter and Boeing lose in South Korea and Malaysia, as they did in Japan
and India, questions will be raised over the future of these fighters in the
international market.
Airshow
Attendance and Events
Despite
the decline in the world economy, the biennial Singapore Airshow shows no sign
of waning. This year’s airshow will be the largest to date with 900 exhibitors
from more than 50 countries, including 22 country pavilions and 59 of the
world’s top 100 aerospace companies, said Jimmy Lau, managing director of
Experia Events, the show organizer.
“The
Asia-Pacific region is riding on a wave of growth as the region continues to
lead in providing new opportunities in the aerospace and defense industry,” Lau
said. The Singapore Airshow is “strategically positioned as a gateway into this
thriving region, [and] plays a crucial role as an effective springboard for
industry players to tap into new opportunities.”
In
2010, the airshow closed with $10 billion in deals and announcements in spite
of a recovering economy. This year will also feature a series of high-level
conferences — the Singapore Airshow Aviation Leadership Summit and the
Asia-Pacific Security Conference.
The
show will have two pavilions this year focusing on new technologies: the Land
Defense and Unmanned Systems Pavilion and the Green Pavilion. The Green
Pavilion will feature an added component called “Deminars” or seminars and
demonstrations combined, Lau said.
Airshow
officials would not identify the number or types of government delegations
visiting the show for security reasons, but the 2010 airshow saw 259 foreign
government and international delegations from 80 countries and 43,459 trade
attendees from 133 counties.
Security
will be tight to safeguard delegations and exhibitors. Beyond the usual
prohibited items, such as firearms and explosives, the exhaustive list includes
spear guns, walking sticks with daggers, nanchakus, crossbows, spears and brass
knuckles.
There
will be much attention paid to Chinese exhibitors and delegations this year.
Those attending the China Business Forum will hear presentations from Ng Pock
Too, chairman and CEO from New Board Technology, and Zhang Xin Guo, executive
vice president of the Aviation Industry Corp. of China.
Chinese
companies exhibiting this year include China National Aero-Technology Import
and Export Corp., Commercial Aircraft Corp. of China, AMECO Beijing and, for
the first time at the show, Beijing Youtaishuncheng Technology Development Co.
with a UAV exhibit.
The
flying display will feature the Blair Aerosports’ Rebel 300, Singapore Air
Force’s F-16 and F-15SG fighter jets, and the Royal Australian Air Force’s
Roulettes flying Pilatus PC-9/A trainers. Despite rumors the F-22 Raptor would
appear, Lockheed indicated the Raptor will be a no show.
Jung Sung-ki in Seoul, Paul Kallender-Umezu in Tokyo and
Nigel Pittaway in Melbourne, Australia, contributed to this report.
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