Page 11 - ADT NOVEMBER - DECEMBER 2022 Online Magazine

commenced at the company’s Wichita, Kansas facilities. The AT-6 is Raytheon’s Paveway IV UK-manufactured
designated as the Beechcraft AT-6TH in Thailand. The Beechcraft weapon for the jets.
AT-6TH is the second RTAF procurement contracted in support of
S-Curve 11. The first procurement under the new strategy was the In November, BAE Systems announced that it
Beechcraft T-6TH Texan II, awarded in 2020. The first of the RTAF’s had finalised agreements worth GBP 80 mil-
twelve T-6TH are slated to arrive in Thailand later this year and lion to secure ongoing service and repairs for
deliveries are expected to be completed by the middle of 2023. key avionics equipment such as displays, flight
controls, and Helmet Mounted Displays for
Textron Aviation Defence (TA Defence) bagged the USD143 million Eurofighter Typhoon aircraft in service with air
contract with the Royal Thai Air Force (RTAF) for eight in November forces in Germany, Spain, the United Kingdom,
2021. TA Defence has teamed up with Thailand Aerospace Industries and Italy, for the next five years.
(TAI) and RV Connex, Co. for manufacturing work and assembly on
the Royal Thai Air Force (RTAF) Beechcraft T-6TH and Beechcraft
AT-6TH. The RTAF will also have use of a TA Defence Beechcraft DASSAULT EYES
AT-6 Wolverine for three years, which will be arriving in-country in NEW RAFAEL CUSTOMERS
late 2022. This aircraft will serve as an Engineering, Manufacturing
and Development testbed for integration of the RTAF’s datalink and Dassault Aviation nears the end of 2022, having
other sovereign programmes as part of Thailand’s ‘purchase and bagged an important sales success for the
develop’ initiative. Rafale in Southeast Asia, with the February order
for 42 aircraft for the Tentara Nasional Indonesia
EUROFIGHTER ADDS TO ORDER BOOK Angkatan Udara (Indonesian National Army Air
Force). The Indonesian order is a major win for
Spain opted for 20 latest generation Eurofighter jets in June to Dassault Aviation and it has offered a complete
replace the F-18 fleet operated by the Spanish Air Force on the turnkey solution, with a comprehensive pack-
Canary Islands. The first aircraft is due for delivery in 2026. The Euro age covering aircrew training, logistical support
2 billion order will result in Spain’s Eurofighter fleet growing to 90 for several Indonesian air bases, and a training
aircraft. The order contract was signed by the NATO Eurofighter center with two Full-Mission Simulators.
and Tornado Management Agency (NETMA). Known as the Halcon
programme, the Spanish Air Force will receive 16 single-seat and 4 The Indian Air Force (IAF) has taken delivery of
twin-seat Eurofighters fitted with Active Electronically Scanned Array all 36 Rafale aircraft ordered in September 2016
(AESA) E-Scan radars. ‘This additional order reinforces Spain’s com-
mitment not only towards the Eurofighter but also to its development and Dassault Aviation is offering Rafale F3-R for
and industrial environment. I would like to thank the customer for the IAF’s requirement for 114 Multi-Role Fighter
its firm position with respect to European defence at a time when
it is needed most,” said Mike Schoellhorn, CEO of Airbus Defence
and Space.

The Spanish Eurofighter is assembled, tested and delivered at the
Airbus Getafe site (Spain). Airbus has also been working at Getafe in
coordination with the Spanish Air Force’s Armament and Experimental
Logistics Centre (CLAEX) to undertake various modifications such
as the implementation of the new CM02+ software package for
the Tranche 1 Eurofighters. A major tactical improvement offered by
this software is the new capacity for automatic targeting of air-to-
surface weapons following integration of the Litening-III targeting
pod. Further air-to-air and air-to-surface capabilities have also © Airbus Defence
been introduced, along with improvements to the communications
Spain has been a Eurofighter operator since 2003 and the country’s Aircraft (MRFA). The French firm is also vying for
air force operates the Eurofighter from the air bases of Morón (11th an Indian Navy contract for 56 Multi-Role Carrier
Wing) and Albacete (14th Wing). The Eurofighter programme has Borne Fighters (MRCBF).An initial buy of 26 air-
received orders for 681 aircraft from nine nations.
craft is envisaged. Dassault Aviation has now
Qatar which inked a £6 billion contract for 24 Typhoon aircraft in found customers for the Rafale in Egypt, India,
December 2017, took delivery of its first aircraft in the UK in August. Qatar, Greece, UAE, Indonesia and Croatia. The
BAE Systems ferried the aircraft to Qatar, later that month. Qatar’s United Arab Emirates has ordered 80 Rafale F4s,
order was the biggest export deal for the Typhoon in a decade and Egypt was the first Rafale export customer and
also included nine Hawk Mk167 jet trainers along with a bespoke has ordered a total of 54 aircraft, while Qatar
support and training package. As part of the deal, MBDA was has ordered 36 Rafales. Greece and Croatia
contracted to supply Brimstone and Meteor missiles along with have ordered 18 and 12 aircraft respectively.
ASIAN DEFENCE TECHNOLOGY NOVEMBER-DECEMBER 2022 | 11