Aerospace Diary

Posted by:  Neelam Mathews Jan 8, 2012   Even as India is believed to have given a June deadline to Dassault to present its offset plans, LaTribune reports Brazil, yet to decide on its MMRCA, has said Rafale’s maintenance costs are higher compared to its competitors, the Gripen (Saab) and F-18 (Boeing). “This does not mean that the Rafale is out of play,” it notes. (French to English translation of the article in Google of the Tribune  isn’t the world’s best! Apologies) But, here goes- some major points: There are many supporters of the Rafale that say:. "This is the most technologically advanced aircraft……We have many things to learn from cooperation with Dassault Aviation…..But the French offer must be better explained or otherwise improved," said an official to the Tribune. “As for the F/A-18 Hornet (Boeing), another rival for the Rafale, it benefits from euro / dollar rate to be competitive with the French aircraft,” quotes the paper. Like...

Posted by- Neelam Mathews Aug 7, 2012 Embraer Defense and Security has delivered four light attack and tactical training A-29 Super Tucano aircraft to Indonesia’s Air Force at a ceremony held in its facility in Gavião Peixoto, São Paulo, Brazil. Indonesia is the first operator of Super Tucano in the Asia-Pacific region. These four A-29 Super Tucano are from the initial batch of eight aircraft purchased by the Indonesian Air Force (IAF) in 2010. The IAF has since ordered a second batch of eight Super Tucanos as part of their equipment modernization exercise, bringing the total number of orders to 16 aircraft. “We are honored that the Indonesian Air force has selected the A-29 Super Tucano as the preferred choice in their fleet modernization program”, said Luiz Carlos Aguiar, President of Embraer Defense and Security. “The Super Tucano is a mature, proven and mission-ready aircraft with more than 160 units in operation globally.” The Super Tucano was chosen by the Indon...

FARNBOROUGH AIR SHOW  »  JULY 10, 2012 by Neelam Mathews July 10, 2012, 6:00 PM Embraer and Boeing signed an agreement here yesterday to collaborate on the integration of new weapons on the  A-29 Super Tucano single-engine turboprop trainer . The deal adds yet another twist to the saga of the  U.S.  Air Force Light Air Support ( LAS ) program, where the Super Tucano is pitched against the somewhat similar Hawker Beechcraft  AT -6. Embraer and Boeing said their new cooperation would not only enhance the Super Tucano solution for  LAS , it would exceed the requirement “in ways that are important to the customer.” There is a wider context to the news; Embraer and Boeing signed a broad cooperation agreement in April, followed two months later by a deal to collaborate on Embraer’s new  KC -390 airlifter. “Why not space in the future?” said Luiz Carlos Aguiar, president of Embraer Defesa  &  Segura...