29 Oct 15. Finmeccanica In Talks with Peru for 6-8 More C-27Js. Italy’s Finmeccanica is negotiating the sale of 6-8 additional Alenia C-27J medium transport aircraft, and also expects to finalize next month the sale of 28 Eurofighter Typhoon fighters to Kuwait, Reuters reported from Rome quoting company CEO Mauro Moretti. Moretti also said “there are no bad surprises in the third quarter accounts, business is going as planned, and maybe before year-end we’ll be able to do something better” than expected, Reuters reported Oct 28 from Rome. Speaking on the sidelines of a conference, Moretti told reporters that “in addition to the two C-27Js already ordered, we are negotiating with Peru for 6-8 additional aircraft, and we could set up a maintenance base in that country” if the deal goes through. A similar promise was made by Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi during a visit to Lima. Moretti said that he expects to close the sale to Kuwait of 28 Eurofighter combat aircraft by mid-November. “The initial agreement was signed in Rome during an official visit, and by mid-November we should sign the inter-government contract.” (Source: defence-aerospace.com)
27 Oct 15. Indian Navy helicopter shortfall adversely affecting operations. The Indian Navy (IN) faces a shortfall of more than 250 helicopters, adversely affecting its operational efficiency, senior officials have said. Efforts to procure replacement platforms through imports and indigenous joint venture (JV) programmes with original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) remain plagued by recurring delays by the Ministry of Defence (MoD).
“This helicopter deficiency has compelled the navy to deploy its rotary assets selectively aboard warships,” according to a two-star IN officer. It is forcing the IN to judiciously pick and choose its helicopter placements in keeping with mission requirements, he added.
The IN’s ageing fleet of around 100 helicopters includes some 30 Westland Sea King Mk42/B/C and UH-3H helicopters; 14 Kamov Ka-28s, including three trainers; 14 Kamov Ka-31 ‘Helix-B’ airborne early warning and control (AEW&C) platforms, currently being upgraded in Russia; around 30 licence-built Chetak (Alouette SA-316/316B) helicopters, inducted into service from 1961; and around 8 locally designed Dhruv Advanced Light Helicopters that narrowly meet the navy’s operational requirements.
(Source: Defense News Early Bird/IHS Jane’s)
23 Oct 15. Japan to Add Boeing Air Tanker to ASDF Fleet. The government said Friday it has selected Boeing Co.’s KC-46A as Japan’s new aerial tanker, and plans to begin adding the aircraft to the Air Self-Defense Force fleet from around fiscal 2020. The Defense Ministry plans to buy three air tankers under the country’s medium-term defense buildup program through fiscal 2018, which underscored the need to enhance the capability to protect remote islands.
“With more aerial tankers, our aerial defense capability will be reinforced,” Defense Minister Gen Nakatani said at a news conference.
The United States proposed a sales price of about 20.8bn yen ($172.8m) per tanker, according to the ministry, which will book the costs in the fiscal 2016 budget. Only the U.S. government participated in the bidding through early September. This is the first overseas sale of the Boeing tanker. (Source: defence-aerosapce.com/Kyodo news service)
23 Oct 15. Sweden Offers Integrated Package. Sweden has officially offered its air power package to Indonesia, banking on lower lifecycle cost coupled with attractive financing solutions and a commitment to fulfill its obligation of transferring the technology. The offer was announced by Swedish Ambassador to Jakarta Johanna Brismar Skoog during a breakfast briefing at her residence in Kebayoran Baru, South Jakarta, on Thursday morning. Indonesia is looking to replace its aging, US-made F-5 E/F Tiger II jet fighter and the Swedish offer is thus far the only comprehensive one. Rather than offering only the latest generation