TH UR SD AY
A PUBLICATION OF
An independent publication, solely owned by The Convention News Co., Inc., Midland Park, N.J. July 22, 2010
The Engine Alliance GP7200 turbofan engine is in the middle of a weight-reduction program that may further help sales. The General Electric-Pratt & Whitney joint venture says the engine has lost 150 pounds since entry into service two years ago. Page 9
• America’s Avenger UAV could be UK’s Scavenger As flight testing of General Atomics Predator C Avenger progresses, observers see it as a key contender for the UK’s MALE UAV, if the UK does not pursue a European solution. Page 12
• Zephyr shows real staying power As you read this, Qinetiq’s remarkable solar-powered UAV could be still airborne somewhere over Arizona, having launched on July 2. When it finally comes back down to earth, it will have annihilated all previous records. Page 16
• Diamond Aircraft polishes future plans While it is flying a DA42 here that’s running on algae-based biofuel, Diamond is planning to develop an aerobatic, two-seat military jet trainer of the D-Jet that will have ejection seats and cost under $3 million. Page 17
• Halving helo fuel burn EADS is slashing helicopter fuel burn with a new diesel-electric engine. Page 20
by Chris Pocock The Royal Air Force (RAF) will emerge from the current UK Strategic Defence and Security Review (SDSR) with only two types of airlifter, two types of fighter and two types of helicopter. That much was confirmed here Tuesday when Air Chief Marshall Sir Stephen Dalton, Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), spoke to journalists after delivering a presentation on Combat ISTAR (intelligence, surveillance, target acquisition, and reconnaissance). A few hours earlier, British defense secretary Dr. Liam Fox told his Farnborough audience, “The current defense program is entirely unaffordable.” These comments are bound to generate a fresh round of chalet chatter on the last trade day of this year’s Farnborough show. Will the government dare to cancel the A400M airlifter in favor of the RAF retaining both the C-130J and the C-17? If not, when exactly will the C130Js be retired? The two fighters must surely be the Eurofighter Typhoon and the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter in the long term. But will the Harriers be chopped immediately, and what about the Tornado GR.4 force? The helicopter choice is already made: the RAF’s Merlins will be transferred to the Royal Navy, leaving the service with Chinooks and upgraded Pumas. “We cannot afford the luxury of multiple supply chains and the associated training and infrastructure costs,” said Fox. “With only two types, we’ll save money upfront and ongoing, while preserving capabilities,” said ACM Dalton. Fox echoed the sober conclusion of a report into defense procurement that was commissioned by the last British government. “There’s no doubt that there has been a culture of mutual over-optimism on costs, timing and perform-
Airbus Military’s A400M will fly home from Farnborough, having impressed show-goers with its performance, but it still needs to convince cash-strapped governments like Britain’s that it is a must-have item in the future defense inventory.
MARK WAGNER
• Slimmer engine woos A380 customers
UK defense cuts will be deep but smart
Continued on page 21
Mubadala targets tier one and a new bizjet for 2018 by Julian Moxon Mubadala Aerospace is positioning itself as a tier-one supplier of large composite structures to Airbus or Boeing for future single-aisle aircraft as part of its continuing drive to become a top player in the global aerospace industry. “We’re looking at a stake of up to 20 percent in the composites content of any new aircraft,” executive director, aerospace unit, Homaid Al Shemmari, said yesterday. Al Shemmari has also revealed the company intends to
build a “business jet-sized aircraft,” with a 2018 target date. “We will design, manufacture and support this aircraft,” he told AIN. The move follows Mubadala’s purchase of a 35percent stake in Piaggio in 2006. The Italian manufacturer is a specialist in composites and will, said Al Shemmari, be a major contributor to the design of the new aircraft. The moves are all part of Mubadala’s drive to create a “high technology, knowledge-in-
tensive” aerospace gineering and Mainteindustry for Abu nance. In 2009 the comDhabi, reflecting the pany increased its stake government’s desire in SR Technics from 40 for the country to percent to 70 percent. It cement its industrial already has a major future by diversifyMRO operation in the ing into high-value Middle East–Abu Dhabi industries through Aircraft Technologies. partnerships with inAl Shemmari confirms ternational aerothe company is looking Mubadala exec director space companies. for other MRO partnerHomaid Al Shemmari At Farnborough, ships in the U.S. and Mubadala signed deals with Asia. “The USA is a must and Goodrich, Honeywell and Siko- we have to be involved in Southrsky, further expanding its main- east Asia as well, but we have not tenance, repair and overhaul decided which should be first.” (MRO) presence. Al Shemmari Mubadala Aerospace will said Mubadala intends to be- complete the first phase of concome “the world’s third biggest struction of its new Strata comMRO company” by 2020, after posites manufacturing facility at Lufthansa Technik and KLM EnContinued on page 21 MARK WAGNER
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Vol. 42 No. 20