ightglobal.com 11-17 June 2019 | Flight International | 53
PARIS
Combat aircraftDespite this, Poland’s defence minister has
signalled the nation’s intention to take 32 A-
model examples, to replace its Soviet-era RAC
MiG-29s and Sukhoi Su-22s from the mid-
2020s. Greece has also expressed interest in
the F-35 as a potential long-term successor for
its Lockheed F-16s.
Richard Smith, Saab’s head of sales and
marketing for the Gripen, notes that the com-
petitive landscape has altered over recent
years, with some customers changing their
emphasis from through-life cost considera-
tions to acquisition price.
“There is a significant shift in the market to
look at acquisition cost – people are not as
concerned about the cost per hour over the
next 30 years,” he notes.
Croatia represents one such example. After
a competition, it selected ex-Israeli air force
F-16s upgraded by the nation’s industry. The
transaction foundered, however, following
US objections linked to equipment covered
by Washington’s international traffic in arms
regulations framework.
Meanwhile, well aware that its F-35 is not the
ideal fit for every air force and budget, Lockheed
is stepping up its efforts to extend the life of its
venerable F-16. With final assembly having
been moved from Fort Worth, Texas, to Green-
ville, South Carolina, the fighter appears by no
means finished on the international stage.
New Delhi is being offered the type for
local assembly, with Lockheed having usedMesse Berlinthe UK’s Tempest – a sixth-generation con-
cept unveiled at last year’s Farnborough air
show – championed by an industry team in-
cluding BAE, Rolls-Royce and Leonardo’s UK
arm. The Swedish government and Saab have
made no secret of Stockholm’s potential inter-
est in also becoming involved in the UK-led
programme.
Much could change over the coming
years, but in the shorter term, fighter manu-
facturers are pursuing multiple sales oppor-
tunities around the globe with their current
products.
Switzerland is currently conducting in-
country evaluations of an intriguing mix of
types, as it advances with a planned procure-
ment that ultimately seeks to replace both its
Boeing F/A-18C/Ds and Northrop F-5s by
- The ongoing process at Payerne air base
has already seen Eurofighters, F/A-18E/F
Super Hornets and Rafales complete visits,
with the Lockheed Martin F-35A and Gripen
E to round out the assessments.
Bern’s last attempt at replacing its F-5s
failed after a public referendum rejected the
funding required to buy the Gripen; a step
that has resulted in the Northrop type becom-
ing an all-but obsolete asset for the Swiss air
force today.
TOUGH TUSSLE
Not so long ago, there was an assumption that
the F-35 might sweep all before it during such
contests, but as demonstrated in Switzerland
and Canada – which is also currently assess-
ing its future fighter needs – rivalry remains as
keen as ever. In part, this is because while
Lockheed says the cost of its conventional
take-off and landing F-35A is on course to fall
below $80 million next year, the Lightning II’s
operating costs are currently much higher
than earlier-generation offerings.
February’s Aero India show in Bengaluru to
rebadge its V-model enhancement as the F-21.
Its latest standard also recently secured ap-
proval for a repeat sale to Morocco, which in-
tends to have its in-service examples modern-
ised to the same standard.
Boeing, meanwhile, is enjoying a produc-
tion revival with both the Advanced F-15 and
Super Hornet products – which had appeared
to be reaching the end of their lives. The com-
pany is preparing to move from F-15SA pro-
duction for Saudi Arabia to building a QA
model for Qatar, and the US Air Force plans to
acquire up to 80 more examples in a new EX
variant. These will replace some of its oldest
F-15C fighters at a significantly lower per-hour
operating cost than the F-35A.FOLLOWING WIND
Dassault is also enjoying a spike in demand
for its Rafale, which will see annual deliveries- which have typically totalled 11 aircraft –
climb beyond 20 units this year. While pro-
duction has concluded for Egypt, first ship-
ments have been made for Qatar, and India’s
lead example has already been flown. Further
examples must still be built to complete ex-
pected commitments from the French air
force and navy, meaning that the company’s
manufacturing status will be secure until its
attention turns more to the proposed FCAS
product range.
The French company’s new industrial ally,
Airbus Defence & Space, is today part of the
Eurofighter consortium. It is leading efforts to
promote the type for a potential follow-on re-
quirement with the German air force, which
is looking to replace its Tranche 1 production
examples of the type over the coming years,
and also transition duties from its ageing Pa-
navia Tornados.
Airbus has described additional Eurofight-
ers, to be produced in an enhanced configura-
tion, as “the logical option” to provide a bridg-
ing solution ahead of FCAS availability. It faces
a surprise rival in the guise of the F-15, but Ber-
lin has ruled out becoming an F-35 operator.
Saab has made a good start with its Gripen
E, with combined sales of 96 to date, for its
home air force in Sweden (60), and first
export customer, Brazil (36). In addition to its
current competitive pitches to Canada, India
and Switzerland, the company also sees
opportunities for its new model, or the earlier-
generation C/D-model, as existing with na-
tions including Bulgaria, Colombia, Finland,
Malaysia and the Philippines.
As the operational fleet of F-35s passes 400
examples around the globe, the Lightning II is
by no means sweeping the board in sales
terms, and the fighter market appears set to
remain vibrant and highly competitive for
years to come, until Europe, too, can promote
a new class of combat asset. ■
“There is a significant shift
in the market to look at
acquisition cost”
Richard Smith
Head of sales and marketing for Gripen, SaabPartners Airbus and Dassault today compete for orders with the Eurofighter and Rafale