Stewart Penney/LONDON
Denmark and Switzerland have selected new transport aircraft although neither country has been able to afford solutions that fully meet their needs.
Switzerland has added two EADS (formerly Casa) C295Ms to its 2001 procurement bill. The Swiss defence ministry, however, says the evaluation of the C295 and the Alenia/Lockheed Martin C-27J revealed that the latter's transport and flight characteristics are superior, but the C295Mhas lower acquisition and life cycle costs. Says a defence ministry source: "The aircraft meets most requirements and the armed forces can live with the capabilities of the C295M, so costs are the final driver."
A ministry source says the C-27J is able to perform most of the required missions and can carry the Swiss Army's HUMVEE-based reconnaissance vehicle, which the C295M cannot transport, therefore "several smaller off-road vehicles will be purchased".
For larger loads a Lockheed Martin C-130 Hercules will be hired from Spain. The source says a separate deal with the Spanish air force is to be finalised and that Italy offered a similar package. Including the new army vehicles, the deal will cost SFr120 million ($69.2 million). Industrial offset of 100% is included and final approval requires a referendum to change the law to allow Swiss armed forces to transport military equipment overseas. EADS says it expects a contract to be signed next October and deliveries in 2003.
Denmark has ordered three C-130J-30Hercules and has taken an option on a fourth transport. Deliveries are set for the fourth quarter of 2003. The Danish air force is to sell its three C-130Hs.
The Danish defence ministry was to select a transport in April this year, but the decision slipped because of the strength of the US dollar against the Danish Krone. An air force source says the exchange rate is still an issue and has forced the inclusion of an option rather than purchase of a fourth airlifter. The contract is worth DKr2.184 billion ($255.7 million).
Unless a major shift in exchange rates occurs, the option is unlikely to be exercised until the next Danish defence plan, which will become active in 2005, says the source.
The contract includes the integration of an electronic warfare management system built by Denmark's Terma.
Source: Flight International
