At least six contenders are to bid for an Australian Defence Force project to replace its fleet of Bell 206 Kiowa utility helicopters with up to 30 armed reconnaissance machines.
A request for proposals (RFP) will be issued on 6 August for the A$1 billion ($613 million) programme, which calls for an integrated weapons and sensor package capable of identifying and designating targets for attack with rockets and missiles to 6km (3nm) range. The request leaves bidders with wide options for solutions to the proposals, which could be incorporated in a later, more detailed, RFP. Contenders will be expected to team with local partners to fulfil Australia's stringent industrial participation requirements.
Bell Helicopter Textron is offering its Zulu Cobra development, a four-blade Cobra variant with new avionics and T-800 engines, while Boeing is proposing an AH-64 Apache tailored to the Air 87 project requirement.
British Aerospace Australia has teamed as prime contractor with Denel of South Africa to offer the Red Hawk variant of the Rooivalk attack helicopter. The team, announced at the end of July, says the key differentiators in its bid will be its ability to offer Australia a customised helicopter equipped with locally developed avionics, software and mission systems. France's Thomson-CSF is expected to be a major system supplier.
Eurocopter is proposing a version of the Franco-German Tiger attack helicopter in partnership with Sydney-based ADI, with Australian industrial group Transfield also likely to be involved, while Italy's Agusta is expected to team with Tenex, formerly the defence systems arm of Transfield, to offer the A129 Mangusta.
Sikorsky is thought to have proposed an armed variant of the UH-60 Black Hawk, already in service with the Australian Army. The proposal is hampered, however, by a requirement said to favour a two-seat tandem attack helicopter type of configuration. A Russian manufacturer is also believed to be a possible bidder.
The Royal Australian Air Force, which is responsible for the procurement on behalf of the Army, plans to divide the contract into hardware and through-life support. Contractors will be expected to offer 100% industrial participation with around 20% linked to the project itself and 80% to through-life support. A request for tenders is expected to follow later this year, with selection in 1999. Funding has yet to be approved.
Source: Flight International
