5th C-17 for RAAF
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Australia - South of where I'd like to be !
Age: 59
Posts: 4,261
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
C27J Spartan seems to be the front runner in Australia
C27J Spartan seems to be the front runner between the two bidders in Australia.
Claim for $300m saving on planes
THE battle to win the $1.5 billion contract to provide Australia with new combat transport planes has heated up, with a document from a US bid prompting a European competitor to suggest that its offering could cut as much as $300 million off the project.
The tender for as many as 10 new ''battlefield airlifter'' planes to replace the air force's DHC-4 Caribous, which were retired in 2009, has been under way since September this year.
Battlefield airlift is the rapid movement of troops and equipment within a conflict zone and requires planes that can make truncated landings and take-offs on short or poorly made airstrips.
Advertisement: Story continues below
Defence Minister Stephen Smith has said the two planes being considered are Airbus Military's C295 and the American-manufactured C27J Spartan, which is used by the US Air National Guard.
What is unclear is whether the Australian government will have a tender process or simply choose the Spartan via a US ''foreign military sale'' option, which can reduce complexity in the tender process.
The possibility of a US foreign military sale was increased yesterday, when the US military's foreign sales arm notified the US Congress that it had given information to Australia about the purchase of 10 C27J planes.
The US Defence Security Co-operation Agency revealed it had provided Australia with an estimated cost of $950 million for the planes, training and logistical support.
That does not include the cost of local facilities and other ancillary issues, which can increase the price by as much as 45 per cent, meaning the overall cost could rise to about $1.5 billion.
The notice prompted a spokesman for Airbus Military, Ted Porter, to call on the Australian government to create a competitive process to allow Airbus to prove the C295's value for money. ''We believe that a competition - rather than a sole-source supplier - is in the best interests of Australia and the Australian taxpayer,'' he said.
Mr Porter said the Spartan burnt more fuel per hour than the C295 - as much as 60 per cent - and that could see the C295 saving as much as $300 million over the 30-year life of a 10-plane fleet.
Mr Porter pointed to recent comments by a Defence procurements officer, who said the competitive tender process for the navy's next-generation helicopters achieved a saving of 25 per cent.
The Tiger and MRH-90 helicopters, are both on Defence's projects of concern list and are both designed by an Airbus Military subsidiary, Eurocopter, and manufactured here by Australian Aerospace.
The Australian Strategic Policy Institute's Andrew Davies said he believed it was likely that Defence would opt for the US-manufactured version. ''We've had a number of problems getting European aircraft into service over the last few years,'' Dr Davies said.
Read more: Claim for $300m saving on planes
Got to love the last line - maybe they are learning !
"''We've had a number of problems getting European aircraft into service over the last few years,'' Dr Davies said."
Claim for $300m saving on planes
THE battle to win the $1.5 billion contract to provide Australia with new combat transport planes has heated up, with a document from a US bid prompting a European competitor to suggest that its offering could cut as much as $300 million off the project.
The tender for as many as 10 new ''battlefield airlifter'' planes to replace the air force's DHC-4 Caribous, which were retired in 2009, has been under way since September this year.
Battlefield airlift is the rapid movement of troops and equipment within a conflict zone and requires planes that can make truncated landings and take-offs on short or poorly made airstrips.
Advertisement: Story continues below
Defence Minister Stephen Smith has said the two planes being considered are Airbus Military's C295 and the American-manufactured C27J Spartan, which is used by the US Air National Guard.
What is unclear is whether the Australian government will have a tender process or simply choose the Spartan via a US ''foreign military sale'' option, which can reduce complexity in the tender process.
The possibility of a US foreign military sale was increased yesterday, when the US military's foreign sales arm notified the US Congress that it had given information to Australia about the purchase of 10 C27J planes.
The US Defence Security Co-operation Agency revealed it had provided Australia with an estimated cost of $950 million for the planes, training and logistical support.
That does not include the cost of local facilities and other ancillary issues, which can increase the price by as much as 45 per cent, meaning the overall cost could rise to about $1.5 billion.
The notice prompted a spokesman for Airbus Military, Ted Porter, to call on the Australian government to create a competitive process to allow Airbus to prove the C295's value for money. ''We believe that a competition - rather than a sole-source supplier - is in the best interests of Australia and the Australian taxpayer,'' he said.
Mr Porter said the Spartan burnt more fuel per hour than the C295 - as much as 60 per cent - and that could see the C295 saving as much as $300 million over the 30-year life of a 10-plane fleet.
Mr Porter pointed to recent comments by a Defence procurements officer, who said the competitive tender process for the navy's next-generation helicopters achieved a saving of 25 per cent.
The Tiger and MRH-90 helicopters, are both on Defence's projects of concern list and are both designed by an Airbus Military subsidiary, Eurocopter, and manufactured here by Australian Aerospace.
The Australian Strategic Policy Institute's Andrew Davies said he believed it was likely that Defence would opt for the US-manufactured version. ''We've had a number of problems getting European aircraft into service over the last few years,'' Dr Davies said.
Read more: Claim for $300m saving on planes
Got to love the last line - maybe they are learning !
"''We've had a number of problems getting European aircraft into service over the last few years,'' Dr Davies said."
Join Date: Jun 2001
Posts: 1,451
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
An interesting debate about the same topic here: http://elpdefensenews.b l o g spot.com/"Big Money for Caribou Replacement".
The C-27 is by no means ideal, but God help us all if we go European again.
The C-27 is by no means ideal, but God help us all if we go European again.
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Australia - South of where I'd like to be !
Age: 59
Posts: 4,261
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I like some of the comments.
"Both the C-295 and C-27 are good aircraft however they are not a "replacement" for the Caribou."
"As we know the Caribou was retired on a lie."
Not sure they're really after a 1:1 replacement but rather a light tactical transport that can carry standard pallets."
I didn't think that they were after a 1to1 replacement either.
I do wonder if we do need something like the Caribou, however we
now have some bigger ships so not sure if the Chinnook can do some of
the work it once did.
"God help us all if we go European again."
AMEN
"Both the C-295 and C-27 are good aircraft however they are not a "replacement" for the Caribou."
"As we know the Caribou was retired on a lie."
Not sure they're really after a 1:1 replacement but rather a light tactical transport that can carry standard pallets."
I didn't think that they were after a 1to1 replacement either.
I do wonder if we do need something like the Caribou, however we
now have some bigger ships so not sure if the Chinnook can do some of
the work it once did.
"God help us all if we go European again."
AMEN
