Chile has again postponed a decision on a new fighter aircraft, buying time for Boeing to submit a revised bid offering the F/A-18E/F and possibly reopening the competition to the DaimlerChrysler Aerospace (Dasa) Mako and Sukhoi Su-27.
Selection of the fighter was delayed by the new Chilean administration of President Ricardo Lagos. Industry sources do not expect a decision before October, and only after critical municipal elections are over.
Further delay will be a disappointment to the Chilean air force (FACh) and its four-year-old campaign to replace ageing Cessna A-37s. The air force had been lobbying the new Socialist-led government to make a fast decision after failing to get the outgoing administration of President Eduardo Frie to sign off the purchase of an initial six fighters.
Equally disappointed is Lockheed Martin, whose F-16C/D had been widely tipped to be the air force's preferred choice over the competing Dassault Mirage 2000-5 MkII and Saab/BAE Systems Gripen.
The delay gives Boeing time to submit a revised offer containing pricing on the new F/A-18E/F, now that the aircraft has completed US Navy operational evaluation and is about to be released for international sales. Its earlier offer of F/A-18C/Ds had been undermined by the imminent shut-down of production.
The three other manufacturers face having to revalidate their tenders, submitted in December. Saab/BAE also draws encouragement from the delay, believing that the new government is better disposed toward Sweden. It also allows the rift caused by the UK's detention of former President Agustus Pinochet to heal.
Dasa says it is "giving notice to the Chilean Government" that the Mako is available, and could re-enter the competition. The light fighter was originally dropped by mutual consent with BAE and Saab to allow the Gripen a clearer run.
Relations between BAE and Dasa have soured in recent months and, as the delays continued, and political tension between Chile and the UK increased, Dasa elected to bring the revised Mako mock-up to the FIDAE show, signalling its intent to re-enter the competition.
As part of its renewed effort, Dasa claims to be holding "informal" talks on potential collaboration throughout "the whole of Latin America". Discussions are either planned, or have begun, with Embraer of Brazil, as well as Chile's Enaer and Lockheed Martin Aircraft Argentina.
The German company claims the Mako could enter service by 2005, if launched by year-end.
Source: Flight International
