Stewart Penney/ABU DHABI
EADS and the United Arab Emirates Air Force and Air Defence have agreed to deepen their alliance to develop the Mako advanced trainer and light attack aircraft, which could lead to a first flight in early 2005.
A memorandum of understanding (MoU) signed at the International Defence Exhibition (IDEX) show in Abu Dhabi last week follows on from a similar document agreed by the pair at the Dubai air show in November 1999.
Under the second MoU the pair have agreed to complete a cockpit demonstrator for display to potential customers at the Paris air show in June, says EADS Military Aircraft president and chief executive officer Aloysius Rauen.
The cockpit demonstrator will also be a "simulator" for potential customers. By the Dubai air show in November, it is hoped that a commitment to build two demonstrators can be reached.
Also signed during IDEX was a series of MoUs with potential suppliers - Computing Devices UK (CDC), Eurojet partner MTU, GE Aircraft Engines and Honeywell. Eurojet builds the EJ200 for Eurofighter, while GE says its F404/F414 engines are being offered.
Risk sharing partners will supply cockpit equipment, with BAE Systems North America providing the hands-on-throttle-and-stick controls, Goodrich the front ejection seat and Martin Baker the rear. CDC will supply displays and the control system.
Mako will be developed as a stealthy, supersonic-capable single and two seat aircraft. Erwin Obermeier, EADS Military Aircraft vice president series production programmes, says that depending on the mix of variants around 330 aircraft would need to be built to break even on more than c1 billion ($900 million) development costs. Financing development is "a core element of the new MoUs", says Rauen.
Source: Flight International
