EADS Military Aircraft signed five more memoranda of understanding (MoUs) with suppliers for the Mako advanced trainer/light attack aircraft in late June.
Signatories were APPH Precision Hydraulics, offering landing gear and the hydraulic system; BAE Systems Controls, bidding for the flight control system including actuators and the utility control system; BGT/Diehl, also offering flight control computers as well as mission computers and participation in weapons, self-defence systems and training aids; FHL bidding flight control system actuators; and Snecma, which will offer its M88-2 engine. Similar deals have already been signed with Computing Devices, Eurojet/MTU, General Electric and Honeywell.
EADS vice president series production programmes Erwin Obermeier says the aircraft could be offered with a choice of up to four engines. Eurojet is offering its EJ200 and GE the F414. Other systems including avionics, the flight control and hydraulic systems will be single source, he says.
Obermeier says EADS and the UAE air force continue to aim for an MoU at November's Dubai air show that would move the programme forward to a "definition and development phase".
Although it has not declared itself a customer, the United Arab Emirates air force is partnering EADS in the on-going definition phase. The Gulf state could use the Mako as a lead-in trainer for Lockheed Martin F-16 Block 60s.
If the deal is signed, the first prototype could fly in 2005 with production aircraft available in 2008/09, he says.
Source: Flight International
