The competition for the USAF’s next jet
trainer, known as the Advanced Pilot Training
programme (or T-X), has lost two potential
bidders in a matter of days. On January 25
Raytheon and Leonardo announced they
would not be submitting a joint entry.
In a statement the two companies said:
“In February 2016, Raytheon and Leonardo
announced their intent to team on the T-X
pursuit. While we remain confident that theT-100 is a strong solution, our companies were
unable to reach a business agreement that is
in the best interest of the USAF. Consequently,
Raytheon and Leonardo will not jointly pursue
the T-X competition.” Italian-based Leonardo
said it was now “evaluating how to leverage
on the strong capabilities and potential of the
T-100, in the best interest of the USAF”.
Then on February 1 a joint press release
from Northrop Grumman and BAE Systemsstated this team’s intention. It said: “Northrop
Grumman and its principal teammate BAE
Systems have carefully examined the US
Air Force’s T-X trainer requirements and
acquisition strategy as stated in the final
request for proposals issued on December
30, 2016. The companies have decided
not to submit a proposal for the T-X trainer
programme, as it would not be in the
best interest of the companies and their
shareholders.” It is thought the companies
would propose the clean sheet Model 400- this has only been seen once (at Mojave
Airport in California) and no details have
been released about it.
The companies, at present, interested
in competing for the T-X programme are
Lockheed Martin with the T-50A and the
Boeing/Saab team with its new T-X trainer
design. The winning bidder will secure
a contract worth $16.3bn involving the
production of up to 350 aircraft to replace the
Northrop T-38 Talon that has been in service
for over four decades.
In an historic move Airbus handed over the
first of 100 aircraft fom the manufacturer to Iran
Air on January 11. The aircraft in question was
A321 EP-IFA which is configured with 12 seats
in Business Class and 182 in Economy.
Farhad Parvaresh, Iran Air Chairman and
CEO, said: “This significant milestone marks
the first practical step in Iran Air’s ambitious
passenger aircraft fleet renewal and its
stronger presence in international civil aviation.
Iranian travellers can be proud with our
selection of the world’s most modern single-
aisle aircraft.
“Iran Air is delighted with this first Airbus
delivery and congratulates everyone involved
who made it possible. Today signals that with
international collaboration and co-operation,
we can achieve mutually beneficial commercial
goals.”The Iranian national carrier’s deal covers
46 A320 Family jets, 16 A350s and 38 A
Family aircraft. Airbus has revealed that two
of the A330s are aircraft built for another
customer but did not enter commercial service.
The Tehran-based airline’s initial
commitment also included a requirement forten A380s but the Superjumbo has now been
axed from the final deal.
Iran Air has also signed a codeshare
agreement with Lufthansa. The deal, which
came into effect on February 1, will see
Lufthansa add Iran Air’s flight code on its
services from Frankfurt and Munich to Tehran.Two Teams Withdraw from T-X
First of a 100 for Iran Air
B-2s Strike Daesh
Fighters in Libya
Precision airstrikes by a pair of B-2 Spirit bombers on Daesh
training camps southwest of Sirte, Libya, on the night of
January 18/19 are said to have killed more than 80 terrorists.
The Spirits dropped 500lb GPS-guided bombs on the
camps, allegedly being used to train for attacks against US
and allied targets in North Africa and Europe.
Fifteen Boeing KC-135 Stratotanker and McDonnell
Douglas KC-10 Extender tankers from five bases on three
continents gave aerial refuelling support during the mission –
enabling the B-2s to fly the more than 30-hour round trip from
their base at Whiteman AFB, Missouri.
On the eve of leaving his position, outgoing US Defense
Secretary Ash Carter said the airstrikes were vital in the
American and coalition force campaign to “deal ISIL the
lasting defeat it deserves”.http://www.aviation-news.co.uk 5The jointly developed Raytheon/Leonardo T-100 is based on a modified Leonardo M-
airframe using two Honeywell/ITEC F124 low-bypass turbofan engines. LeonardoThe first Airbus A321 for Iran Air, EP-IFA (c/n 7418). Another 99 Airbus aircraft are on order.
Airbus/photo by H. GOUSSÉ / master filmsThe US is beginning a “detailed assessment” of the F-35 programme
to try and reduce costs. It makes good on a pre-inauguration promise
by new President Donald Trump. Secretary for Defense, James Mattis,
called for the review in a memorandum to his deputy. He wants to
“determine opportunities to significantly reduce the cost of the F-
programme”.
Mattis also seeks a parallel effort to compare the operational
capabilities of the carrier-borne F-35C variant with the existing Boeing
F/A-18E/F Super Hornet. This will involve a study into an F-35C
alternative based on the so-called Advanced Super Hornet concept
previously pitched by Boeing. The assessment will review the practicality
of fielding a “competitive, cost effective fighter aircraft alternative”.
Current Chief of Naval Operations Admiral Jonathan Greenert has
pointed to an emerging shortfall of between 24 and 36 strike fighters
because of problems with the F-35C programme and having ageing
Hornet and Super Hornet fleets to manage.New F-35 Scrutiny
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