Paul Lewis/WASHINGTON DC
Raytheon is looking to broaden its airborne early warning & control (AEW&C) teaming with Elta to smaller alternatives to the Phalcon-equipped Airbus A310-300. It follows Turkey's selection of the rival Boeing 737/Northrop Grumman Multirole Electronically Scanned Array (MESA) system (Flight International, 5-11 December).
The US company says its pact with Elta remains despite consecutive losses at the hands of the 737/MESA in Turkey and, previously, in Australia. "The teaming agreement was made for the worldwide market and it still exists," says Dennis Cleverly, Raytheon vice president AEW&C.
Raytheon and Elta plan to again offer the A310/Phalcon combination to South Korea, following the resurrection of the country's E-X requirement and a recent release of a fresh request for proposals. The system was one of two shortlisted by Seoul in late 1998, but a final selection was overtaken by Asia's economic implosion.
At the same time, Elta and Raytheon are looking at repackaging the electronically-scanned array into a large business jet such as the Gulfstream V or Bombardier Global Express. "We do have the luxury of not being a large aircraft original equipment manufacturer," notes Cleverly.
As an integrator, Raytheon could leverage off its Global Express-based Airborne Stand-off Radar programme for the UK, and its involvement with the Embraer EMB-145SA/SIVAM Amazon surveillance programme. In place of a dorsal-mounted 360° array on the A310, a business jet application would probably feature cheek-mounted antennas on the forward fuselage, like Chile's Phalcon-equipped Boeing 707.
While Boeing has scored success at the upper end of the AEW&C market, Raytheon and Elta are in danger of being squeezed out from the lower end by the Ericsson Erieye-equipped EMB-145. The system has been ordered by Brazil, for the SIVAM project, and by Greece. It is also being pitched in South Korea, with Thomson-CSF acting as integrator. Further competition will come from Gulfstream and its General Dynamics parent, which are considering surveillance versions of the GV.
South Korea is expected to shortlist two bidders once proposals have been submitted in February. A contract is scheduled for award by mid-2002 for up to four E-Xs. In the longer term, Raytheon is looking to emerging AEW needs in Italy and Israel, which are due to move forward in 2003 and 2004, respectively.
Raytheon and Elta, in the meantime, have not totally given up hope in Turkey should contractual negotiations with Boeing founder. "We don't believe the process is over and done," adds Cleverly.
Source: Flight International
