The 12-nation Advanced European Jet Pilot Training (AEJPT) programme is heading for a potential end-of-year showdown, with EADS warning that if agreement is not reached on requirements it will go ahead with those countries ready to commit to the Mako. Italy is seeking to line up support for its rival Aermacchi M346 trainer.
Max Heyder, EADS vice-president advanced trainer, says it may be forced to go it alone with "around five to six air forces" and "wait for others to join in". EADS is keen to launch the project, which has amassed over 1,100h in windtunnel testing and cost €70 million ($82 million). The company says it needs around 60 orders to launch the €1.5 billion development.
EADS's three home nations - France, Germany and Spain - have shown a strong interest in Mako as their preferred AEJPT Eurotrainer.
The Italian DGAA defence procurement agency, which has led the Eurotrainer project, is understood to prefer the M346. Other potential candidates include the BAE Systems Hawk 128 and Lockheed Martin/ Korea Aerospace Industries T-50.
The 12 nations and five companies (including Dassault, Pilatus and Saab) studying AEJPT were tasked with reaching a consensus by year-end. This seems increasingly unlikely and the number of participating nations could be further depleted. Denmark, Ireland, Norway, Turkey and the UK have quit and, of the remaining 12, there are question marks over Austria, the Netherlands, Portugal, Sweden and Switzerland. The latter is selling its Hawks and eyeing the NATO Flying Training in Canada programme.
Axel Nilsson, head of aircraft development for the Swedish armed forces, says there "needs to be more thinking". He has evaluated the M346, Mako and T-50 and says none meets Sweden's future needs. Gripen International as an alternative suggests the Gripen's flight control system could be limited to emulate training syllabus conditions.
Meanwhile, Dassault plans to propose an interim cockpit and wing upgrade of the French air force's 125 Dassault/Dornier Alphajets, based on Sabca's recent modernisation of 33 Belgian air force trainers. France needs a new training aircraft to match fourth-generation combat aircraft such as the Dassault Rafale, and the Eurotrainer "will take time because we have to harmonise the needs and the budgets between the 12 countries who need a new trainer", says Dassault chief executive Charles Edelstenne.
Source: Flight International
