Boeing executives are saving any angst over the absence of US military aircraft on display for Dubai later this year and Singapore in early 2014.

"Here in Paris it's much more of a commercial than a military event, so I think from our defence position it's not that big of a deal for us," Jeff Koehler, Boeing vice-president of international business development, told reporters at a media roundtable at the company's Paris headquarters on 16 June.

Boeing would be more concerned if aircraft with international sales interest such as the Bell Boeing V-22, P-8 and C-17 were not available for the big air shows scheduled in the Middle East and Asia, where the market for military equipment is still growing.

"I hope that the policy changes a little bit as we get to some of the other air shows, because we really could use them in Dubai and Singapore next year," Koehler says.

Boeing also struck a philosophical tone in explaining its nonchalance about the absence of US military aircraft on static display in Paris.

"The customers are still coming in to see us and they know what the products are," Koehler says. "We don't need it parked on the ramp for them to know that."

Boeing says it sees interest in sales in the near future for up to 25 P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft. The KC-46A aerial refueller in development for the US Air Force will be available for export starting in 2018, and Boeing is starting to see interest for that programme among international militaries.

Check out the latest news and views from this year's Paris air show, including:

Finally, our new-look iFDN editions will contain exclusive footage from Paris 2013. Find out more

Source: Flight Daily News

Topics