STEWART PENNEY
EADS Military Aircraft has signed another five memoranda of understanding (MoUs) with systems suppliers for the Mako advanced trainer/light attack aircraft. The MoU signatories are here at the show.
APPH Precision Hydraulics is offering the landing gear and hydraulic system.
BAE Systems Controls is bidding for the flight-control system, including actuators, and the utility control system.
BGT/Diehl is also offering flight-control computers as well as mission computers and participation in weapons, self-defence systems and training aids
FHL is bidding for the flight-control system actuators, and Snecma is offering its M88-2 engine.
Agreements
In March this year EADS, in partnership with the United Arab Emirates Air Force, signed similar agreements with Computing Devices, Eurojet/MTU, General Electric and Honeywell. Erwin Obermeier, EADS VP for series production programmes, says: "We aim to design the aeroplane's structure to accept more than one engine". It is possible, he adds, that the aircraft could be offered with a choice of up to four engines. Eurojet is bidding its EJ200 and GE the F414. He says that other systems - including avionics and the flight control and hydraulic systems - will be single-source.
Obermeier says EADS and the UAEAF continue to aim for an MoU at November¹s Dubai airshow. That would move the programme forward from today's studies to a "definition and development phase".
If an MoU is indeed concluded, the first aircraft would fly in 2005 and production aircraft would be available in 2008/09, says Obermeier.
Source: Flight Daily News