AleniaAermacchi of Italy and Korean Aerospace Industries/Lockheed Martin are apparently trading barbs as the two compete to secure an order from the UAE for fighter trainers. (HT to reader)
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11 Comments
It looks like the Italians are getting nervous. Rumors that the UAE is leaning towards the T-50 is going around. Combine that with the fact that a model of the T-50 was once displayed in UAEAF colors(you can’t do that without their blessing) during a past Dubai airshow and that it’s a good complement to their F-16E/Fs, well the possibility of the T-50 winning the contract isn’t remote.
Of course with the Middle East you never know, so let’s wait and see.
They’re throwing FUD at each other.
UAE AF’s primary combat aircraft is the Mirage 2000 and F-16, with F-16 block 60 as the newest. The T-50, due to its origins, would make a more familiar trainer aircraft for F-16’s thus Korea has the upper hand here.
The Italian offering is good as a multi-purpose combat trainer, but it’s
not in any way better than the T-50, unless if they can offer it at a much
lower price, in which case UAE should bypass the Italians and go directly to Yakalov for Yak-130 (for which the M-346 was based off of).
According to this article:
http://www.defensenews.com/sto.....p;C=top100
The unit price for T-50 to UAE is $25 million USD. The M-346 was quoted at $15 million USD in 2001. Due to rising value of Euros vs. USD, I think the unit cost should be a lot higher in dollars now, which gives the M-346 only a slight, but hardly decisive, price advantage.
On a lighter note, can’t these two prickly peninsular people just stop trading barbs and get along?
Italian and Korean hot headedness doesn’t appear to be mix well. Good thing we don’t compete in other products such as cell phones, TVs or ships.
Not so fast. With STX’s purchase of Aker Yards, Korea will be competiting, albeit indirectly, with Fincantieri of Italy in cruise ships.
as someone who can remember yontan, i’m jst amazed that korea would even be involved in such a subject matter of which, btw, i have no understanding.
Per Flight Daily News:
“Some believe that it is this resurgence in Iranian air power that lies behind the UAE’s recent elimination of the BAE Hawk from the nation’s ongoing trainer competition. While the Hawk is an excellent advanced trainer, there may be some pressure for any trainer acquired by the UAE to be fully capable of operational missions, should it ever be necessary to get the maximum number of aircraft into the air at once. Elimination of the Hawk leaves the Alenia M-346 and the T-50 in the competition, both of which are claimed to offer better frontline capabilities.”
Thus, if the T-50 can quickly become an F/A-50 for the UAE, it may actually be a plus. It sounds like this is Korea’s to loose if the fumble it.
Could it come down to whoever offers more, uh, ‘perks’ to the deal?
It has long been rumored (as described in the Economist) that Airbus secured some of its Middle East deals in the past using ‘bonuses’. Something that Boeing and other American firms are unable to do (or must be very careful in doing) for fear of prosecution back home. I don’t think there are any such constraints in place holding back (French) Italian or Korean firms.
Who cares the greasiness of the lubricant as long as it allows the deed to slip through the cracks?
The only ones who will care will be the party that loses the deal. But buying a competitive edge is a short-term solution that will lead to long-term failure because those companies that are unable to innovate and compete without paying bribes will not be able to compete with those that are able to succeed without such greasing.
Wangkon, your quote describe the UAE using the trainer in actual missions during wartime. What is the difference exactly, between a multi-purpose combat trainer and an actual combat aircraft? How much more difficult is it to manufacture a trainer than a fighter jet?