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AEROSPACE
Canada to choose new fighter jets in coming weeks
by Staff Writers
Ottawa (AFP) June 12, 2014


Japan said to be exploring deal for helicopters
Tokyo (UPI) Jun 12, 2013 - Japanese government officials are reportedly in talks with international helicopter manufacturers over possible production of utility aircraft for its military.

Japan Times , quoting unidentified sources, identified the companies as Bell Helicopter, which is partnered with Fuji Heavy Industries; Airbus Helicopters, teamed with Kawasaki Heavy Industries; and AgustaWestland, whose products are marketed in Japan by Mitsui & Co.

According to the report, discussions are in the early stages and began recently. They represent a milestone in Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's effort to foster a domestic military export industry and bring down Japan's defense procurement costs.

The talks also coincide with rising tensions with China over Beijing's increasingly assertive actions over territorial disputes with Japan and other Asian nations.

The helicopter procurement project is called UH-X. It is for the replacement of Japan's aging Huey helicopters, which Japan uses for transporting troops.

The newspaper said the project eyes helicopters that would not only replace the Hueys but could also be exported.

The decade-long project could be worth as much as $2 billion, sources said.

The Canadian government said Thursday it will choose one of four fighter jets in competition to replace its aging fleet of CF-18s "in the coming weeks."

Critics, however, contend the procurement process -- which was reset in 2012 amid complaints of several manufacturers being shut out of it -- is rigged in favor of the American Lockheed Martin F-35 stealth fighter jet.

Over the past 14 months, an independent review panel compiled the costs, capabilities and weaknesses of Boeing's F-18 Super Hornet, the Eurofighter Typhoon, Dassault's Rafale and the F-35.

Prime Minister Stephen Harper said this week his cabinet would now review the panel's report, which has not been made public. However, reporters were briefed Thursday on the methodology to calculate the pros and cons of the jets in the running.

"Ministers... will make a decision on the path forward to replace the CF-18 fleet in the coming weeks," the government said in a notice.

Opposition leader Tom Mulcair, however, claimed "the prime minister still seems poised to blindly push ahead with the expensive and risky single engine F-35."

Ottawa started the procurement process anew two years ago after coming under fire over the spiralling costs and an apparent lack of transparency and competition in a process that was focused on the F-35, which Canada had spent 15 years helping to develop.

The F-35 has been touted as a technological wonder and the ultimate stealth attack plane able to evade radar detection.

However, it has suffered setback after setback, notably with troublesome software. It is seven years behind schedule with a budget blow-out of US$167 billion to more than $390 billion, making it the costliest weapons program in US history.

At last count, it involved 72 Canadian companies.

Australia, Britain, Denmark, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway and Turkey have also taken part in the development of the jet, along with the United States.

Australia and Turkey are the latest this year to place orders. South Korea is also expected to finalize plans to buy F-35 jets by year's end.

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AEROSPACE
Northrop Grumman Delivers 150th Center Fuselage for F-35 Lightning II
Palmdale CA (SPX) Jun 11, 2014
Northrop Grumman has marked another significant production milestone for the F-35 Lightning II program by delivering its 150th center fuselage to F-35 prime contractor Lockheed Martin. The center fuselage is the core structure around which the aircraft is built. Designated AF-68, the center fuselage was delivered June 2. It is the 50th such unit Northrop Grumman has delivered in the last 1 ... read more


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