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Airbus military aircraft head says it was good to keep A400M work in South Africa

27th June 2014

By: Keith Campbell

Creamer Media Senior Deputy Editor

  

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Airbus made the right decision in retaining South African companies in the supply chain for the A400M military airlift aircraft, Airbus Defence & Space executive VP: military aircraft Domingo Ureña told South African journalists in Seville recently. “I think it was the right decision to keep industrial capacity in South Africa,” he said. Important components and parts for the A400M are manufactured by South African companies Aerosud and Denel Aerostructures. “The two companies are partners,” he observed. “Hopefully, we’ll get South Africa back [as a customer].”

When asked if he was referring to South Africa re-entering the A400M programme, or acquiring the smaller C295 aircraft, he responded: “Both, definitely. The C295 is the ideal aircraft to replace the C-47.” (South Africa employs a number of about 70-year old Douglas C-47 Dakotas in the maritime surveillance and light/medium transport roles. The C295 can also perform both roles.) “The A400M is ideal for [troop and equipment] deployments,” he pointed out. “They are different animals for different missions.”

Deliveries of A400Ms to the core customer nations are now under way. Two have been delivered to the French Air Force, which is already using them on operational missions from its main bases in France to forward airfields in Mali in support of the Franco-African mission in that country. One has been delivered to the Turkish Air Force. More deliveries will follow to more customers during the rest of the year. By the end of this year, the French will be operating seven of the aircraft while the UK Royal Air Force would have received five.

Head of the A400M programme Rafael Tentor-Auñon reported, in his briefing to international media at the company’s recent Trade Media Briefing, that 90% of the aircraft’s flight test programme was now completed. “Entry into service has been really smooth,” he noted. “We now have a solid, reliable platform. We have kept the weight under control. We have the aircraft flying in the envelope that we promised, at the speed that we promised [and] at an altitude that we promised. From now on, it’s production and delivery.”

The company is now vigorously marketing the A400M to countries that are not part of the programme’s core group. “We have better prospects than before,” affirmed Tentor-Auñon. “The interest, in general terms, is growing everywhere. We have the first [production] slot available [for an export customer] in 2017.”

Regarding the C295, to date, the company has sold more than 140 of these aircraft to 20 operators in nine countries, and nine of these operators have placed repeat orders for the aeroplane. It is being qualified for additional missions – not all of them military. These include firefighting, oil spill dispersant spraying, VIP transport, signals intelligence and ground surveillance and air-to-air refuelling (especially for helicopters). Previously announced new versions include airborne early warning and control aircraft and gunships. The maritime patrol version is being certified to carry a wider range of weapons. The prototype enhanced-performance C295W, equipped with winglets at the tips of its wings, is currently undergoing flight tests.

The C295 is complemented by its older but smaller sister, the CN235, which is employed in the light/medium transport, law enforcement and unarmed maritime surveillance roles. In 2013, combined C295/CN235 sales came to 12 aircraft, which represented 83% of the global market share. During the first half of this year, C295/CN235 sales amounted to 20 aircraft, or 100% of the world market.

The Military Aircraft division is also respon-sible for converting Airbus A330-200 airliners into A330 multirole tanker transports for military use. To date, 36 have been ordered (with more than 17 delivered) and orders for another eight are being concluded. Negotiations are also under way with France and the aircraft is competing for a South Korean order. Under the group reorganisation which created Airbus Defence & Space, the Military Aircraft division is now also responsible for Airbus’s share in the Eurofighter Typhoon multirole fighter programme and its unmanned air vehicle projects.

Keith Campbell attended the annual Trade Media Briefing of the Military Aircraft Division of Airbus Defence & Space in Seville and Madrid, in Spain, as a guest of the company. The Military Aircraft division was previously known as Airbus Military.

Edited by Martin Zhuwakinyu
Creamer Media Senior Deputy Editor

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