Daimler-Benz Aerospace (Dasa) has submitted a revised bid for the Greek air force McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom upgrade, which it says is now "-based on a close co-operation with [Israeli manufacturer] Elbit".
Dasa is competing with Rockwell for the contract. Neither of the initial proposals met the air force's requirement, although Rockwell's costing for the programme undercut Dasa's by 35%. Both companies, therefore, were forced to submit renewed bids after the Greek air force closed the initial tender in 1996.
The German manufacturer now says that it has managed to cut the cost of its upgrade by one-third. "We believe we are fully competitive with Rockwell," says Dasa.
At first, Dasa offered work similar to that carried out on its German air force F-4F Improved Combat Effectiveness (ICE) upgrade, with improved display capabilities. It includes an advanced medium-range air-to-air missile-compatible APG-65 radar, licence-built by Dasa.
Rockwell's proposal includes an APG-68 radar, offering commonality with the Greek air force's Lockheed Martin F-16 fleet. Dasa says, however, that the APG-65 has "far better" beyond-visual-range capability than the APG-68 and can engage more targets.
Elbit has been brought in as a subcontractor, says Dasa, supplying the mission computer and displays. In contrast with the ICE upgrade, this offers a completely new cockpit suite with colour, cathode-ray-tube, multi- function displays, bringing the cockpit "in line with state-of-the-art aircraft".
Dasa remains the prime contractor, with overall systems-integration and software-development responsibility. Elbit has already been involved in Israeli air force Phantom upgrades and is working on a similar one for Turkey.
The air force wants to upgrade between 20 and 35 aircraft by 2000. Dasa says that its links with Greece's Hellenic Aerospace Industry could give it an edge in keeping to this timescale.
Elbit had been teamed with Israel Aircraft Industries in an early bid. Israeli sources say this failed because Greece would not award the contract to a firm involved in a similar programme in Turkey.
Source: Flight International
