The British Aerospace link-up with Lockheed Martin for the Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) competition stole the headlines at Paris on the defence scene.
Many consider the long-predicted transatlantic link a foregone conclusion, but talks had been going between BAe and its two suitors until Monday.
It appears Boeing officials were convinced that they were still in the running up to the point BAe broke the new at mid-day on Wednesday. The JSF project was one of the few bright spots on the military scene, with most other companies at Paris finding the military market increasingly competitive in the face of shrinking defence budgets around the world.
None of the big American, European or Russian defence companies was able to announce orders for new frontline combat aircraft at Paris.
The consolidation of the European defence and aerospace industry becomes more pressing by the day in the face of the seemingly irresistible drive of market forces.
The 'heavy metal' was prominent as usual in the flying display, but the best prospects seemed to be in the trainer and helicopter market.
The new upgraded Romanian IAR-99 SOIM showed the way and there were plenty of helicopters around sporting interesting modifications to meet specialised customer requirements, such as the Eurocopter Cougars with air-to-air refuelling probes for combat search and rescue missions, and the Mil Mi-28 with periscope sight.
The way forward on the military front is perhaps represented by the proliferation of unmanned aerial vehicles at Paris, as military forces look to carry out combat missions for lower costs and reduced pilot risk.
A record 23 air vehicles were on display out on the static park and hundreds of sub-systems were on offer around the halls.
The prospect was also raised of UAV entering the flying display at the 1999 show.
Source: Flight Daily News
