Algeria’s “disciplined” acquisition process for a new airlifter threatens to cut the C-17 out of the competition because of a lack of availability, says a top Boeing executive.
Algeria is considering the C-17, the Airbus A400M and the upgraded Ilyushin Il-76MD90 for a possible order of between four and six aircraft. Boeing performed flight demonstrations of the C-17 in the country in 2013, expecting a decision to be made in 2014.
Boeing, however, is shutting down C-17 production in June 2015, leaving only 10 unsold “white tails” available from which Algeria could make a purchase.
“I’m hoping Algeria can get through their process. I would like to have Algeria as a C-17 customer. I’m just concerned that their process will not allow them to move quick enough,” says Paul Oliver, Boeing’s vice-president for business development in the Middle East and Africa, speaking at the Africa Aerospace and Defence show.
Several other countries are lining up to claim the white tails, although no deals have been signed yet.
“We’re seeing a lot of our existing customers who now realise the line is going away, so they’re coming in and buying them up,” Oliver says.
In July, Boeing Defense, Space & Security chief executive Chris Chadwick said he expected to see deals close within the next six months.
Oliver says he “thinks” new orders will be placed for the white-tail C-17s soon.
“We’ve got aircraft available, but that number… [is] decreasing rapidly,” he says.
Elsewhere on the continent, Boeing’s sales activity is slow. Delivery of 10 AH-64D Apache helicopters to Egypt remains on hold, Oliver says, despite a public commitment by the Obama administration last April to release the aircraft.
Boeing has briefed several countries in Africa on the AH-6I scout helicopter, but so far has not generated any sales interest, he says.
A push to sell unmanned air systems in the region suffered a slight blow when Boeing withdrew plans to display and operate an Insitu ScanEagle at the show, Oliver says.
“We were trying to have it flying for the show, but it just didn’t work out,” Oliver says. “There are a limited number of demonstration aircraft. They were actually tied up for customer demonstrations.”
“We were trying to have it flying for the show, but it just didn’t work out,” Oliver says. “There are a limited number of demonstration aircraft. They were actually tied up for customer demonstrations.”
Source: FlightGlobal.com
