DaimlerChrysler Aerospace (Dasa) is gearing up for an aggressive sales drive in the emerging Mikoyan MiG-29 Fulcrum upgrade market following the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Russian manufacturer MAPO and arms export agency Rozvoorouzhenie.
The German company has also revealed plans to establish a similar venture for Sukhoi Su-22 Fitter maintenance and upgrade work. "We have contacted Sukhoi already and they have told us - in principle - that we can take over the marketing lead," says Dasa vice-president marketing and sales support programmes Uwe Kamlage.
Dasa, MAPO and Rozvoorouzhenie formed the joint venture MiG Aircraft Product Support (MAPS) in 1993 to provide maintenance, spares and training support for the fleet of MiG-29s inherited by the German air force following German re-unification. Under the terms of the latest MoU, the three organisations are negotiating the formation of what is internally referred to as "MAPS International" to extend the venture's activities into MiG-29 support and upgrade markets around the world.
MAPS International will focus on the MiG-29 upgrade requirements of Poland, Hungary, Bulgaria, Romania and Slovakia, says Kamlage.
Preliminary discussions between some of these countries, their local aerospace industries and Dasa have already taken place, but these efforts will be brought under the umbrella of MAPS International, Kamlage says.
MAPS International would offer a range of modular upgrades, ranging from a "minimum solution" to provide basic interoperability within NATO airspace, to the complete replacement of the aircraft's avionics and the installation of a glass cockpit and Western weapons system.
Dasa is leading Eurofighter's bid in Poland, which has a requirement for new multirole fighters, and the German company is offering to upgrade the country's MiG-29s as an "interim solution". Poland is also the lead potential customer for an Su-22 upgrade programme.
Another sales prospect is Hungary, where Dasa has held discussions with local firm Danubian about possible participation in an upgrade programme. In Romania, Dasa is considering taking a stake in soon-to-be privatised upgrade house Aerostar, as part of its efforts to win MiG-29 upgrade work.
Dasa, meanwhile, is supporting Russia's offer to supply MiG-29s to the Austrian air force. MAPS is 50%-owned by Dasa, with MAPO holding 34% and Rozvoorouzhenie the rest.
Source: Flight International
