Graham Warwick/SANTIAGO
Chile plans to shortlist two finalists for its Fighter 2000 programme by the end of this month, and select the winning aircraft by the end of May. The air force is completing its technical evaluation of the four competing aircraft - the Boeing F-18, Dassault Mirage 2000, Lockheed Martin F-16 and Saab/British Aerospace Gripen.
All four bidders were asked to submit offers covering 16-20 aircraft and include pricing on a full range of weapons. The initial batch of aircraft will replace the Chilean air force's Cessna A-37 attack aircraft, but the operational requirement includes the roles performed by the service's locally upgraded Dassault Mirages and Northrop F-5s, which will be replaced eventually with the winning fighter.
Both USmanufacturers have offered Chile the latest standard of aircraft in production for the USarmed forces.
Lockheed Martin has proposed a Block 50 F-16 with "specific enhancements" to meet the Chilean requirement. Saab is offering the Gripen export version now under development, which introduces colour cockpit displays and inflight refuelling.
The US Government is believed to have assured Chile that the AIM-120 advanced medium range air to air missile (AMRAAM) will be made available, although it is not expected to be part of the initial purchase. The AMRAAM is the primary air to air weapon on the F-16, F-18 and Gripen. Dassault is proposing Matra BAe Dynamics' Mica medium-range missile.
Bids are believed also to have covered an integrated self-protection suite, targeting pods and air to ground weaponry. The baseline electronic countermeasures system offered on the F-16 and F-18 is the USALQ-165 Airborne Self Protection Jammer.
Talks on offset proposals are continuing. Lockheed Martin has signed a memorandum of understanding with Chilean manufacturer Enaer covering co- production of aft fuselages and engine doors, and is talking to local electronics company DTS about avionics work, if the F-16 is selected. Enaer and Mirage 2000 engine supplier Snecma are studying co-operation on Mirage and C-130 Hercules engine maintenance.
Chile, meanwhile, has added its name to the list of Latin American countries to select the Sikorsky S-70/UH-60 Black Hawk transport helicopter. The Chilean air force is to begin a Bell UH-1 replacement programme with an initial contract for a single S-70A. The air force plans to replace its UH-1s with Black Hawks on a 3:1 ratio over the next several years, says Sikorsky.
The US manufacturer recently demonstrated the helicopter to the Venezuelan army and is pursuing follow-on orders from Argentina, Brazil, Colombia and Mexico. Colombia already operates 20 Black Hawks and requires more, says Sikorsky, as does Mexico, which has six aircraft so far.o
See FIDAE 98 news, PP8-9.
Source: Flight International
