THE UNITED ARAB Emirates (UAE) will decide on an aircraft to fulfil its strategic-strike requirement by the end of this year, say industry sources close to the competition.
The UAE air force is interested in procuring up to 80 aircraft to provide a long-range-strike and an air-defence capability, with deliveries beginning in 1998-9.
Western and Russian manufacturers have been involved in a prolonged battle for the contract. McDonnell Douglas is offering the F-15U, a derivative of the F-15E Strike Eagle, while Lockheed Martin is pushing single- and two-seat configurations of the F-16U.
British Aerospace, is initially offering to lease to the UAE ex-Royal Air Force Panavia Tornado interdictor-strike aircraft, with the full requirement to be met by the Eurofighter EF2000 when that aircraft becomes available early in the next century.
Dassault is offering the Mirage 2000-5 and the Rafale as candidates to meet the requirement. Russia's Sukhoi is pushing the Su-35 development of its Su-27 Flanker.
US Secretary of State for Defense William Perry visited the UAE during the show, with the combat-aircraft requirement on the agenda.
Issues concerning the releasability of some technologies have yet to be resolved between the two countries, including whether the USA would be willing to provide the UAE with the Hughes AIM-120 Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air Missile.
The UAE requirement calls for an extended-range strike aircraft capable of carrying its Hakim family of stand off guided weapons. In the strategic strike role, the preference is for a two-seat aircraft.
In trying to address UAE concerns over reliability and perceived weaknesses in some avionics systems, Sukhoi has been looking to Western firms to partner its bid.
As far back as 1992, Sukhoi and GEC-Marconi of the UK held prolonged discussions over the Westernisation of the Su-35 for the UAE. These negotiations, which also involved UAE military officials, collapsed, in part because of UK Government objections.
The Russian manufacturer has also held talks with French companies, thought to include Thomson-CSF, on a similar approach to the UAE requirement.
Source: Flight International
