CV990 From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Posted (10 years 10 months 1 day 2 hours ago) and read 2390 times:
Hi!
Just to give you the latest update to our military aviation. Some of you saw my last post about a possible cancellation of the Europter EC635 for the portuguese army. Well that indeed happened and at this moment the portuguese government is ready to chose between the Agusta A109M and the Westland Battlefield Lynx, another competitor should be the Bell 427, but this last one is still in development. Another order that is almost jeopardized is the one for 10 NHIndustries NH90, as we know NHIndustries is also a part of Eurocopter and after Portugal cancelled the EC635 some sectors in Portugal said that this contract should be cancelled too because there're no penalties for non-delivery by NHIndustries, the delivery time of 10 years ( !!! ) and no firm counterparties. A good option that is now beeing evaluated is the fact that Portugal should only have 2 types of helicopters, the Lynx ( already used by the Navy ) and the EH101 ( the NH90 could be easely replaced by this type ) that Portugal already ordered 11 units and could make another order for extra ones.
About the future transport aircraft for Portugal Air Force, Lockheed came with an atractive offer for Portugal to buy new C-130J's, they will offer great possibilities to OGMA (Aero Workshops from Air Force) in Alverca and with this Portugal will drop the A400M program.
The mainly idea is that Portugal is now controlling a lot the expenses and the ones that can offer better benefits will certainly get the orders. We'll wait and see.
regards
LMP737 From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 1, posted (10 years 10 months 14 hours ago) and read 2317 times:
IMHO Portugal would be better served with the C-130J. It's cheaper that the proposed A400M and it would enter service with the Portugal Air Force sooner. There are also issues with the A400M. Like when it will enter service. Italy and Turkey have already said no to the A400M and Germany can't seem to make up it's mind. Then there's the fact that the UK already has two modern airlifters in service, the C-17 and C-130J.
CV990 From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 2, posted (10 years 10 months 2 hours ago) and read 2296 times:
Hi!
I absolutely agree with you. Portuguese Air Force have an historic relation with the Hercules since 1975. The plane had served incredible well and I think our air force will make a smooth transition to the J version. I also don't think the A400 will be the right aircraft for us, it's merely a political decision! If we choose the C-130J I think we will buy between 3 to 4. As you probably know Portugal ordered 5 new C-130H's in 1974, latter Portugal ordered another Hercules, this time a 30 version ( longer ) and converted 2 of the 20 version to 30, that gave an extra boost to our transport and at the same time those converted received many modifications that makes them almost like new aircraft. If Portugal replace the other 20 version by new C-130J then we'll have the same number of Hercules and after a few years we can replace them by more C-130J's.
Regards
LMP737 From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 4, posted (10 years 9 months 4 weeks 1 day 19 hours ago) and read 2273 times:
CV990:
Agree with you 100%. If Portugal does order the A400M it will be political decision. Especially if there's workshare involved. The only countries that seem to be totally committed to the A400M are France and Spain. Like I mentioned before Germany can't seem to make up it's mind and the RAF really doesn't need three airlifters. If the UK does order the A400M it will be a PURELY political decision. Mainly due to the fact that the wings would be produced by BAE. The RAF is more than pleased with the C-17 and I can't see them giving them up for the A400M.
CV990 From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 5, posted (10 years 9 months 4 weeks 1 day 5 hours ago) and read 2254 times:
Hi LMP737!
In my opinion the A400M is gonna be a born-dead project. Why should Europe make a project on a airlifter when we have the best ones in USA? Is it due to financial income? If European air forces buy an US product of course that will give more income to USA, but what's the big deal of that? The money channalized to make the A400M project is far away the one involved in buying the C-130J or even the C-17. I think it's always the same old issue Europe versus USA. I really hope Portugal buys a well proven airlifter, in this case the C-130J!!!! About France and Spain, they're quite a bit chauvinists and we know too well that the A400M will give a great boost to their aviation technology, and I'm sure they want that!
We'll wait and see!
regards
LMP737 From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 6, posted (10 years 9 months 3 weeks 6 days 14 hours ago) and read 2235 times:
Let me correct a previous statement. Earlier I said that Turkey had said no to the A400M. That's not the case, evidently they have decreased the number of aircraft they have ordered.
IMO the A400M is going to be built. There's to much at stake politically for the project to die. However it's probably going to end up like the Eurofighter project. Years behind schedule and way over budget.
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