In a surprise move, the Japan Defence Agency (JDA) has advanced the formal start of its AH-X future attack helicopter programme by 18 months and issued competing European and US airframe and engine manufacturers with request for proposals (RFP).
According to informed industry sources, the JDA has indicated that it now wants to make a final type selection as early as June 1999. The AH-X programme was originally not expected to be initiated until the start of the next five-year defence plan in financial year 2000, with a final decision not due until 2001/2.
The RFP asks for pricing on around 100 helicopters and up to 300 turboshafts, including spares. Sources suggest an early release of an RFP is intended to assess the affordability of the machine before the submission of programme funding requests for the next five-year plan. The JDA is confronted by a shrinking budget and a weakening currency.
The Japan Ground-Self Defence Force's (JGSDF) preferred choice is widely regarded to be a licence-built version of the Boeing AH-64D Apache Longbow, powered by the General Electric T700. Other contenders include a Rolls-Royce/Turboméca RTM322-powered version of the AH-64, the Bell AH-1Z Super Cobra being offered by Fuji Heavy Industries and the Eurocopter Tiger supported by Marubeni.
Source: Flight International
