Paul Lewis & Mario Fonseca/RIO DE JANEIRO
Brazil and Italy are to issue a joint request for proposals (RFP) shortly to Alenia and Embraer for a mid-life upgrade of the AMX light attack aircraft.
The Italian manufacturer is looking to build on the collaborative programme and compete for Brazil's CL-X transport, Lockheed Martin P-3 Orion upgrade and F-X fighter requirements.
Alenia has teamed with Embraer to upgrade the countries' AMX fleets based on the Italian-led 70:30 workshare of the original programme, says Carmeio Cosentino, Alenia Aerospazio senior vice president.
The companies, along with Israel's Elbit, are proposing an avionics package including two 150mm x 200mm liquid crystal displays (LCDs), 130mm x 130mm LCD head-up display and mission computer.
The new suite is based on that being developed for the Aermacchi M-346 - the Italian company's development of the Yakovlev Yak-130. A decision has yet to be taken on selecting either the Italian Fiar Grifo or an improved Telcom SCP-01 as the new radar.
Alenia and Lockheed Martin are to offer the C-27J for Brazil's expected CL-X RFP to replace de Havilland Canada DHC-5 Buffalos.
Brazil has an initial requirement for eight to 12 transports, for which the EADS Casa C-295 will also compete. "We're now working with Embraer to involve them," says Cosentino.
Alenia is signalling its intent to compete for F-X with the Eurofighter Typhoon, which will put it into competition with partner BAE Systems' planned Saab Gripen offering. Under the Eurofighter marketing agreement, Alenia has the lead in Brazil and "we want to promote it," says Cosentino.
The Orion modernisation is another opportunity for Alenia, with the air force expected to release an RFP by June.
The first Orion destined for the P-3BRprogramme was handed over in the USA in late February. Eight of the 12 airframes will be overhauled and modernised with the remainder being used for spares.
P-3BR contenders include Alenia with its Maritime Patrol Mission System developed for the ATR 42/72MP Surveyor, EADS Casa with the FITS system recently selected by the United Arab Emirates, Lockheed Martin, Raytheon and Thales with its AMASCOS 300. Embraer will co-operate with the winner.
The requirement includes a new multimode radar, acoustic processing, sonobuoy system, forward looking infrared, datalink, navigation and communications suite, magnetic anomaly detector and electronic support measures.
The air force intends to announce the winner later this year. The first P-3BR is expected to be delivered during 2003, a year late, with the last aircraft handed over in early 2005.
Source: Flight International
