Paul Lewis/SINGAPORE
SOUTH AFRICA HAS entered discussions, with South Korea and Spain, on the possible joint development of a new advanced trainer and light-strike aircraft.
The South African Air Force is looking for a replacement for its aging Atlas-built Aermacchi MB.326K/M Impala I/II. Interest until now has focused on the British Aerospace Hawk 100/200 and the Aermacchi MB.339.
Denel's Atlas Aircraft, however, is lobbying for air force support for a new development, rather than ordering an existing foreign type. "Upgraded versions of what is flying today are not going to meet the training needs of tomorrow," says chief executive Johan Alberts.
While not confirming that talks have been held with either South Korea or Spain, Alberts states: "If there is a market, and if we can find partners, then we will look into it, but I don't think we will be the main partner."
All three countries need a new aircraft early in the next century, but none has a large enough requirement to justify the cost of developing an indigenous design. Talks have centred on trying to define a common requirement, which meets the operational needs of each air force.
Aerospace manufacturers from South Korea and Spain, like South Africa, have been pressing their respective air forces to commit to a new international co-development programme, rather than allocate defence funds to off-the-shelf procurement of a foreign trainer.
A Samsung Aerospace-led South Korean consortium has been trying to win support for full-scale development of its KTX-II programme. The single-engine aircraft is being proposed to the South Korean air force to meet its requirement for up to 100 lead-in fighter trainers.
Lockheed Martin has already been assisting Samsung and South Korea's Agency for Defence Development (ADD), with preliminary design work. The US manufacturer has stated, however, that it would only become a partner if a minimum of 300-400 aircraft were to be produced (Flight International, 8-14 November).
At the same time, Samsung has been negotiating with CASA of Spain to join the KTX-II programme. The Spanish air force has recently re-designated its longstanding AX light-attack project as the ATX, indicating greater emphasis on advanced training. About 80 aircraft are required.
Atlas Aircraft has also been holding talks with the ADD and primary contractor Daewoo about possible collaboration on primary trainer aircraft. Daewoo has been searching for a foreign partner to join its KTX-I turboprop-trainer programme. Atlas, in the meantime, is looking for support to continue development of its similar ACE trainer.
The KTX-I had a setback on 25 November with the crash of the lead prototype. The crash is understood to have resulted from a suspected involuntary firing of the pilot's Martin-Baker Mk16 ejection seat while the aircraft was inverted.
Source: Flight International
