Fórum Defesa Brasil

SAAF to acquire two Embraer VIP transports
Written by defenceWeb
Monday, 04 April 2011 13:13



The South African Air Force is to lease two Embraer Linaege 1000 jets for VIP transport for five years at a cost of some US$120 million (about R808 million), the Afrikaans daily, Beeld, reports. The paper says the lease was awarded in the last week via Embraer's local agent, AdoAir; a small aviation company based at Lanseria airport and owned by Nigerian businessman Adegboyega Olulade.

Beeld adds the lease was confirmed by Ministry of Defence and Military Veterans spokesman Ndivhuwo Mabaya. He told the paper's Erika Gibson the planes will be put in use as soon as possible. The lease was necessary because of the age of the SAAF VIP fleet. The aircraft, to be assigned to 21 Squadron, will be used to support the Inkwazi, the Presidential Boeing Business Jet and will allow the SAAF to use its own assets when the BBJ is undergoing maintenance, rather than making use of alternative aircraft rented at high cost.

The Afrikaans daily adds five companies were asked to tender for the requirement, including Bombardier (Global Express), Gulfstream (G550) and Dassault (Falcon 7X).

21 Squadron currently flies an all-jet VIP fleet consisting of two eight-seat Dassault Falcon 50 acquired second-hand in 1982 and 1985, a single 19-seat Dassault Falcon 900 bought in 1992 and two nine-seat Cessna 550 Citation IIs purchased in 1983. The 18-seat B737-7ED BBJ was delivered in January 2003. Beeld says its unclear where the funding will come from although it suspects the National Treasury and Presidency may provide some. The February Estimates of National Expenditure made no mention of this acquisition, although it did note an increase of 21.6% in the Transport and Maritime Capability subprogramme to “provide for the upgrade of the Falcon 900 project and the increased serviceability of the C130 aircraft capability.”

The Embraer will be able to carry a minimum of 17 passengers and offer sleeping quarters, together with toilet and showers, for two passengers; onboard computer, facsimile and communications systems; and two conference facilities for at least six passengers.

The Democratic Alliance (DA) has questioned the move, which did not appear in the Armscor Bulletin System. “Why are we spending R800-million on aircraft for VIPs when millions of people do not have housing, health and basic services? With R800 million, for example, 10 000 RDP houses could be provided,” defence spokesman David Maynier said.

“The use of the South African Air Force for the purpose of ferrying around VIPs needs close scrutiny. The ministerial handbook is clear: the use of defence force aircraft for these purposes should be the exception, not the rule.”

cb_lima escreveu:Quanto aos Helis, isso não parece ser os Heli já recebidos... quem sabe é uma segunda encomenda!?

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CB_Lima

WalterGaudério escreveu:

cb_lima escreveu:Quanto aos Helis, isso não parece ser os Heli já recebidos... quem sabe é uma segunda encomenda!?

[]s
CB_Lima

Tenho quase certeza se tratar daquele contrato em gestação de +12 Mi-35/AH-2, mas para o EB

Penguin escreveu:DATE:05/04/11
SOURCE:Flight International
South Africa accepts first five upgraded Rooivalks for operational use
By Craig Hoyle


© Christo Crous/SAAF

IAF set to seal $ 10 bn combat aircraft deal
Surya Gangadharan, Jaimon Joseph, CNN-IBN
Updated Apr 05, 2011 at 12:12pm IST

New Delhi: The Eurofighter Typhoon is in combat for the first time over Libya and the Indian Air Force is watching with deep interest. The aircraft is one of six competing for the medium multi-role combat aircraft (MMRCA) tender. And recent reports give the Eurofighter and the French Rafale the edge in the competition.

Air Marshal PK Barbora, Ex Vice Chief of Air Staff said, "The Air Force is not looking at price. That's not our area of concern. What we want is QRs are focussed on technical aspects, latest technology. Lot is available in the market and there is potential for future growth."

The EuroFighter and the Rafale are relatively new aircraft and in that sense, state of art. The Eurofighter entering service with six air forces in the last few years. And the Rafale in service with the French Air Force.
Click to play video
New Delhi: The Eurofighter Typhoon is in combat for the first time over Libya and the Indian Air Force is watching with deep interest. The aircraft is one of six competing for the medium multi-role combat aircraft (MMRCA) tender. And recent reports give the Eurofighter and the French Rafale the edge in the competition.
Air Marshal PK Barbora, Ex Vice Chief of Air Staff said, "The Air Force is not looking at price. That's not our area of concern. What we want is QRs are focussed on technical aspects, latest technology. Lot is available in the market and there is potential for future growth."
The EuroFighter and the Rafale are relatively new aircraft and in that sense, state of art. The Eurofighter entering service with six air forces in the last few years. And the Rafale in service with the French Air Force.

Air Commodore Jasjit Singh, Director, Centre for Air Power Studies said, "We've bought a huge amount of arms from the US already. In comparision, the last few years, hardly anything from Europe. Therefore, you could make an adjustment and spread your eggs in different baskets."

Subtle weaknesses could rule out some of the contenders. Boeing's F18 is huge and the IAF isn't keen on planes that heavy. Sweden's Gripen is deadly but India's Light Combat Aircraft could be improved to match it. Lockheed Martin's F-16 is also flown by Pakistan.

But, India urgently needs more fighters. The new planes will take ten years to come, even after the deal is signed. An offer for second hand planes, over and above the new ones being negotiated, could sweeten the deal.

The crucial element now, is political capital. How India can leverage the world's biggest fighter aircraft tender for larger gains.

Carlos Mathias escreveu:
"Começam a cair os F-18E americanos!!!!!!!".