19 juin 2019 | International, Aérospatial
Longview Aviation Press Release
Longview Aviation Capital and its subsidiary Viking Air Limited announced a seven aircraft sales contract for six new-production CL-515 aircraft and one CL-415EAF.
The CL-515 is a newly developed, technically advanced multi-mission aerial firefighting aircraft – the next generation of the Canadair CL-415, the aviation industry's benchmark amphibious aircraft and the backbone of firefighting missions around the globe. With enhanced firefighting capabilities, and the flexibility to support a wide range of critical mission operations, the CL-515 will be a vitally important strategic asset to fleets around the world.
The Republic of Indonesia's Ministry of Defense has agreed to purchase six all-new CL-515 aircraft, four of which will be delivered in “first responder” multi-mission configuration, and two delivered in optimized aerial firefighter configuration. The purchase agreement also includes one Canadair CL-415EAF “Enhanced Aerial Firefighter” aircraft converted from a Canadair CL-215 to EAF standard by Longview Aviation Capital's subsidiary, Longview Aviation Services.
The Republic of Indonesia's purchase agreement is a firm commitment that is conditional only on Longview Aviation Capital's board of directors approving the production launch program.
“We are thrilled to welcome the Republic of Indonesia as the first customer for this extraordinary aircraft,” said David Curtis, chairman and chief executive officer of Longview Aviation Capital. “This contract is a major milestone in bringing the next generation Canadair to market. The confidence of a sovereign government in our program is matched by our own confidence in our ability to deliver this new aircraft platform to the world. We are very well advanced in all aspects of program planning, including our supply chain, and we are nearing a final decision on manufacturing and final assembly sites. We expect to complete the remaining program milestones in the near future, and deliver the first new CL-515 on schedule in 2024.”
Since acquiring the type certificates for the Canadair amphibious aircraft program from Bombardier in 2016, Longview has had positive discussions with numerous potential customers from around the world, including both governments and private operators, who have enthusiastically encouraged a production restart.
On the basis of the global interest in the unique and unrivalled capabilities of the CL-515, Longview and Viking have invested in a rigorous process ahead of full production launch decision:
• Consulted extensively with current global operators to understand their future aerial firefighting resource requirements.
• Conducted extensive market research and feasibility studies and developed a new all-season multi-mission platform, leveraging advanced technology not previously included in the CL program.
• Consulted with key supplier partners.
• Undertaken advanced supply chain and manufacturing planning, including options associated with Longview's current facilities and potential new facilities in Western Canada.
• Up to 15 per cent better aerial firefighting productivity, including increased tank capacity and ability to refill in 14 seconds.
• State-of-the-art Collins Pro Line Fusion digital avionics suite for unrivaled situational awareness.
• Flexible architecture to support multi-mission capabilities including aerial firefighting, maritime patrol, surveillance, medevac, environmental monitoring, insect control, oil spill detection and dispersant.
• Reduced maintenance and operating costs through improved, scalable avionics and superior design.
• Unmatched mission efficiency and flexibility, requiring no runway or reloading capacity during waterbombing firefighting.
“Indonesia is on the front lines of increasing challenges like forest fires, and as an island nation has extensive needs for a range of amphibious capabilities,” said Yuyu Sutisna, chief of staff for Indonesia's Air Force. “We have chosen to invest in this aircraft based on the Canadair's solid track record demonstrated around the world over the last 50 years, and Viking's established capabilities as an aircraft developer and producer. The next generation CL-515 will have unmatched operational performance, particularly as a firefighter. This aircraft has the best productivity of any aerial firefighting aircraft, capable of delivering the highest quantity of foam retardant per day, while at the same time providing the flexibility to save lives and protect our coastal areas through its multi-role SAR and Maritime Surveillance functionalities. We are proud to sign the first contract for this extraordinary aircraft that will enhance our mission capability at excellent value.”
Building on the pedigree of the Canadair CL-415, the CL-515 “First Responder” is the next generation of purpose-built aerial firefighter and multi-role amphibious aircraft. Through the incorporation of new technology and the integration of the state-of-the-art Collins Pro Line Fusion digital avionics suite, the 515 provides operators with world class reliability, enhanced safety, and unrivaled situational awareness.
The significant global interest in the aircraft is underscored by the increasing worldwide frequency and severity of wildfires as a result of climate change. As truly amphibious aircraft, the Canadair CL-415 and the CL-515 are able to refill with water while flying, as well as mix retardant in flight. Requiring no runway to reload water, the aircraft is able to make more frequent waterbombing missions, particularly in remote or difficult to access areas.
The FAR/Part 25-certified Collins Pro Line Fusion avionics suite is a scalable software-based system that addresses current regulatory requirements while anticipating future expansion. The core avionics configuration features flight director, flight management system (FMS) coupled with SBAS-GPS and LPV capability, terrain awareness warning system (TAWS), ADS-B out, synthetic vision, crew alerting system display indicators, and a multi-functional keyboard panel with dual cursor controls.
The new-production CL-515 offers exceptional aerial firefighting capabilities offering up to a 15 per cent increase in productivity while reducing maintenance and operating costs. Its expanded tank capacity — 7,000 litres — and ability to refill in 14 seconds from water sources in close proximity to wildfires allows the CL-515 to drop enormous amounts of foam-injected fire retardant on a continuous basis.
As a true multi-mission platform, the CL-515 First Responder's flexible architecture allows integration of mission equipment for a variety of roles in a single airframe, including aerial firefighting, maritime patrol, surveillance, medevac, environmental monitoring, insect control, oil spill detection and dispersant.
The CL-515 is the only aerial firefighter and multi-mission amphibious aircraft built and supported by an OEM with complete full factory warranty, established world-class product support network, and factory-endorsed full motion level D flight simulator, making it the most technically advanced multi-mission aerial firefighting aircraft available on the market.
“Our plans for the CL-515 build on our successful track record as an aircraft OEM. Our team conceived and developed the world-renowned Viking Series 400 Twin Otter, and to-date we have sold and delivered new aircraft to operators in 31 countries around the world,” said Curtis. “Longview and Viking have earned a reputation as the world leader in utility aircraft, and we have every confidence in our company's ability to efficiently produce a multi-role aircraft that will set a new global standard for amphibious operations.”
20 janvier 2022 | International, Aérospatial
Turkish procurement officials think that once the Hurjet has become combat-proven with its use in the Turkish military, its export prospects will flourish.
16 juillet 2020 | International, C4ISR, Sécurité
By: Valerie Insinna WASHINGTON — After decades of trying to break into the U.S. military aircraft market, Airbus is shifting course with a new strategy that prioritizes selling off-the-shelf sensors, data, space and intelligence capabilities that have been customized for U.S. government buyers. During a Wednesday discussion with reporters about the new direction for the business, Chris Emerson, the new chief executive of the Airbus U.S. Space and Defense division and formerly the president of Airbus Helicopters, said he wanted to move the company's focus in the United States away from the major fixed-wing platforms that are the company's bread and butter in Europe. Instead, he hopes to expand the company's presence in the growing space and intelligence markets, particularly with low-cost satellites like those made by its joint venture One Web, geospatial intelligence and imaging, and space-based sensors. “We know the Air Force needs an A400M, but I can spend 10 years trying to convince the Air Force and all the politicians that they should buy an A400M. And ultimately they will buy C-130s,” Emerson said. “So let me focus this energy, this great leadership team, on achieving something that is tangible today that the customer really needs. Yes, it's not traditional for Airbus, but it will bring the value and we'll have a better foundation if one day my successor says, ‘You know, I want to be a big platform competitor.' At least we'd have built up trust and proven that we could really meet the requirements that are demanded of it.” Although Airbus is a juggernaut in the international military and commercial aerospace market, it has always struggled to find its place among the U.S. defense prime contractors as major aircraft manufacturers. It famously lost the KC-X contract to Boeing in 2011 after a bloody and prolonged battle. Since then, the company's biggest procurement victory has been continued sales of its UH-72A Lakota helicopter to the Army. “I remember I spent eight years thinking we could bring real value on air-to-air refueling for the Air Force. But I spent eight years, and I'm frustrated because I look at it and we didn't succeed,” Emerson said. “I've asked the team, ‘Let's find a roadmap where we can actually make a mark with the customers.' And that means, I'm not going to go look at competing with Boeing and the Lockheeds and Northrop, but I'm going to look at other areas.” The U.S. customer is increasingly making investments into technologies that can augment or accelerate decision-making, he said. “That's where we start to look everything beyond an air breathing platform. We started to look at the data, the intelligence, that they need,” he said. “It could be intelligence that is geospatial-related, either Earth observation, or electro-optical, or synthetic aperture radar, or a blend that we're pulling in multi-source information.” Airbus already develops those types of capabilities in its commercial air and space businesses, and could quickly adapt them to U.S. demands, he said. When there are opportunities to offer Airbus aircraft to the U.S. military, the strategy will be to partner with American primes, Emerson said. For instance, last year Airbus and Lockheed signed a memorandum of understanding to market aerial refueling services to the U.S. Air Force using the Airbus A330 Multi Role Tanker Transport. Asked on Wednesday whether the two companies planned to compete for tanker leasing opportunities currently being considered by the Air Force, Emerson said Lockheed takes the lead on interactions with the U.S. military on aerial refueling. He added that UH-72s will continue to be manufactured alongside Airbus's commercial H125 helicopter in Columbus, Miss., but modifications, support and contracting will be performed by the Airbus U.S. Space and Defense. In addition to naming Emerson as head of the company's U.S. defense and space business, Airbus also appointed a five-person board of directors — which includes former National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency director Letitia Long and William Shelton, a retired Air Force four-star and former head of Air Force Space Command — aimed at deepening ties with the U.S. military, space and intelligence agencies. It also named a seven-person team of advisers made up of former national security officials. https://www.defensenews.com/industry/2020/07/15/airbus-us-pivots-business-strategy-away-from-selling-big-platforms-to-the-pentagon/
8 octobre 2020 | International, Aérospatial
BOQUET Justine L'Allemagne a finalement décidé de repousser l'acquisition d'hélicoptères de transport lourds. Remplacement des CH-53G. Suite à l'impact économique de la crise du Coronavirus, Berlin a finalement fait le choix d'annuler son appel d'offres visant au remplacement de sa flotte de CH-53G, pour lequel concouraient d'une part Rheinmetall et Sikorsky avec le CH-53K et de l'autre Boeing avec son Chinook. « L'annulation a eu lieu peu de temps avant la date prévue pour l'attribution du contrat, indiquant que de nouveaux facteurs tels que la COVID-19 ont dû être pris en considération », met en avant Harry Boneham, analyste associé pour GlobalData. Cependant l'Allemagne n'a pas pour autant renoncé à l'idée de remplacer sa flotte de CH-53G, mais souhaite cependant revoir sa copie et ses priorités dans le cadre de ce projet. Un contrat pourrait ainsi malgré tout être attribué, mais comportant beaucoup moins d'options, afin de faire baisser le coût global. Coup dur pour Boeing et Lockheed Martin. Alors que l'on savait le secteur de l'aviation civile durement touché par la crise, cette décision montre que les budgets de défense pourraient également être touchés dans certains pays, venant dès lors impacter les entreprises duales à l'instar de Boeing. « Les entreprises telles que Boeing présentes sur les deux marchés s'appuient fortement sur la branche défense pour compenser l'impact sur l'activité commerciale. Ce contrat aurait fourni une précieuse source de revenus fiable sur le moyen et long terme » complète l'analyse. Cas isolé ? Si pour le moment les conclusions sont difficiles à tirer, la tendance générale reste malgré tout à la hausse des budgets de défense. Que cela soit en France, en Finlande, en Colombie, en Estonie, au Pakistan, en Suède ou encore en Argentine, le secteur de la défense est vu comme une des clés de la relance. Il permet ainsi d'offrir des débouchés via de la commande publique aux entreprises du secteur. Ces contrats, s'ils ne sont attribués à l'industrie nationale, comportent bien souvent une part non négligeable de compensations industrielles permettant la création d'emplois ou l'installation de chaîne de production. https://www.air-cosmos.com/article/lallemagne-renonce-son-projet-dhlicoptre-lourd-23696