Aerospace Technical Services (ATS) has attacked the Australian Government's decision not to grant IPTN a tender extension, claiming that it was close to securing additional funding to complete the CN235-330 Phoenix development.
According to ATS general manager Glenn Keys, two unidentified Australian companies had expressed willingness to invest in the programme as a candidate replacement for the Royal Australian Air Force's (RAAF) de Havilland DHC-4 Caribou.
IPTN and partner ATS had asked the Canberra Government for a two-month extension to the tender submission deadline in order to finalise an agreement.
It is understood that cash-strapped IPTN needed about $50 million to complete development, flight testing and certification of the improved CN235-330. Work included fitting uprated General Electric CT7-9C3 turboprops, new Hamilton Standard propellers and Honeywell avionics.
With Australia not expected to finalise a contract until mid-1999, competing manufacturers are being required to invest in competing aircraft up front to meet the RAAF's timetable of wanting its first transport in service by 2000.
Alenia and Lockheed Martin are both working on the C-27J Spartan and IPTN's former co-development partner, Casa, on a stretched CN295.
Source: Flight International
