ARIE EGOZI / TEL AVIV
Israel Aircraft Industries' (IAI) Commercial Aircraft Group and Gulfstream Aerospace have teamed with Lockheed Martin Aircraft & Logistics Centers of Greenville, South Carolina, to bid for the US Navy's Rockwell T-39 Sabreliner trainer replacement, worth around $400 million.
Intended to meet the navy's undergraduate military flying officer training system requirement, the US/Israeli bid is based on the G150 mid-sized business jet, which is under development by IAI for Gulfstream. The aircraft will be ready for customer deliveries in time to meet the USN schedule in 2006, says IAI.
Given the tentative military designation T-48, the aircraft will be equipped with a multimode radar, trainee and instructor stations and enhanced navigation and communication systems. To be based at Pensacola NAS, Florida, the replacement aircraft will be capable of simulated fighter-type operational manoeuvres.
The navy's requirement calls for the provision of an initial 16 aircraft, plus associated mission equipment, ground training and classroom systems and a multi-year logistics support package. The service is expected to issue a request for proposals for the T-39 replacement on 23 January, and to make a downselect decision late this year.
Other bids for the requirement are expected from companies including Bombardier, Cessna and Raytheon Aircraft (Flight International, 1-7 July 2003). IAI and Gulfstream plan to jointly invest $80-100 million in the G150, which will fill the gap between their respective G100 and G200 designs.
Source: Flight International
