Karen Walker
Lockheed Martin remains confident it holds the edge in the competition to supply the United Arab Emirates Air Force with a new fighter aircraft, says Tom Schoegler, the company's Middle East director of business development and government relations.
No timeline has been revealed by the UAE for announcement of its decision, but final contenders are the advanced Block 60 Lockheed Martin F-16, the Dassault Rafale and the Eurofighter EF2000. Up to 80 aircraft may be purchased.
"The UAE continues to study the proposals from our company and certainly also from the French and from Eurofighter," says Schoegler.
Lockheed Martin is looking at ways of matching Eurofighter's oil-for-aircraft proposal in the competition. There was some disquiet in the US when Eurofighter's bid became known in September, as the rules of the US Foreign Military Sales programme do not allow a similar tactic.
However, according to Robert Lawrence, Lockheed Martin's vice-president for the Middle East and Africa, the company is working closely with the US government on the issue: "We will look at all the options and do whatever is necessary in the circumstances," he says.
Aside from the much-awaited UAE decision, Lockheed Martin has plenty of other potential orders in the Middle East.
"The Government of Saudi Arabia has not signalled to the US Government that it wants to buy more airplanes at this time, but discussions have been ongoing for some time on a replacement programme for their F-5s," says Schoegler.
The Royal Saudi Air Force has more than 100 Northrop F-5s. "I would not see this as near-term, but some time in the future they will be looking for new airplanes."
Schoegler says the Bahraini and US governments have notified the US Congress of Bahrain's intention to buy additional fighters.
"They have said they would prefer the new option over used," says Schoegler, who adds that during the timeframe of the Dubai Air Show the US government will be in the region and by December should be ready to present a letter of offer (LoO) for between eight and 12 Block 40 F-16s similar to those purchased by Egypt last year.
"Because the Egyptians purchased additional Block 40s a year ago, the Block 40 is on the production line as we speak, which is also the Bahrain Block number. It's a nice fit."
Meanwhile, says Schoegler, Egypt is considering picking up options on nine more F-16s and Qatar has expressed "initial interest, but nothing that would signal formal negotiations right now."
Another major programme in the Middle East for Lockheed Martin is its newest variant of the C-130 transport, the C-130J.
"The -J is currently being considered by almost every country that owns C-130s in its fleet," says Schoegler. "All are looking at the -J because, quite simply, it is an aircraft that brings tremendous savings to the recipient in their lifecycle costs.
"It makes it very attractive. In the Middle East, Saudi Arabia has the largest fleet of C-130s with 50-plus airplanes.
They will at some point probably start a modernisation programme, so that is probably the closest near-term prospect."
Source: Flight Daily News
