Denmark has postponed a decision on the procurement of transport aircraft due to the strength of the US dollar against the Danish krone.
The Danes have been evaluating bids from Airtruck, offering a Westernised version of the Antonov An-70, the An-7X, and Lockheed Martin, offering the C-130J Hercules. Airbus Military Company offered the A400M, but is believed to have been eliminated because it could not meet the required in-service date (Flight International, 8-14 February). Denmark plans a 2002-4 in-service date for new transports.
The air force was due to make a decision in late April but has delayed the decision until October at the earliest because of the strength of the US dollar, says Peter Gundelach, air material command head of transport aircraft branch. The exchange rate problem takes the Hercules - long believed to be Denmark's preferred solution - outside the Danish budget.
Denmark's position is complicated by the need to sell its four C-130Hs to pay in part for the new transports.
Gundelach says that a delay may cause problems if the present C-130 fleet remains in service too long, reducing its attractiveness on the secondhand market.
Meanwhile, Gundelach says a decision is imminent on the conversion of two Bombardier Challenger business jet options to firm orders, mainly for surveillance and VIP duties.
Source: Flight International
