Douglas Barrie/LONDON
Airbus Military Company (AMC) is attempting to pull forward a German-led study on the Antonov An-70's ability to meet European tactical military transport requirements. This is in an effort to avoid further delays to the European Future Large Aircraft (FLA) programme.
The German study timescale conflicts with AMC's proposed submission next January of a response to a request for proposal (RFP) from the interested states (Belgium, France, Italy, Portugal, Spain, Turkey and the UK) on the FLA. The German An-70 study is not scheduled to be completed until mid-1999, opening the possibility of leaving the FLA programme in limbo for much of next year.
A UK project source confirms: "AMC wants the two studies pulled together in terms of timescale. It doesn't want to see a delay to the RFP response, and is trying to pull the German study forward."
Volker Rühe, the German defence minister, is championing the An-70 to meet the FLA requirement, a move which the source indicates would leave Airbus Industrie reluctant to act as prime contractor for an FLA design based around the An-70.
An FLA policy group meeting during the week of the Berlin air show, which starts on 18 May, could see the Airbus position on the An-70 spelled out.
In a further twist along the road towards the purchase of new European military transports, the majority of the FLA states are also expected to release an RFP at the end of next month to Boeing and Lockheed Martin, based on a European Staff Requirement. Antonov could also respond directly to the RFP.
The move is primarily the result of a UK-led initiative to introduce some element of competition into the FLA procurement process. Lockheed Martin's response is likely to include the C-130J Hercules and its Advanced Mobility Aircraft (AMA) concept. The US giant has already offered Airbus part of the AMA modular airlift project as a collaborative venture. The Boeing C-17 Globemaster III is also likely to be among the offerings.
Source: Flight International
