ADEX 2013: Airbus Military targets South Korean sales opps

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ADEX 2013: Airbus Military targets South Korean sales opps

Airbus Military is to offer South Korea a raft of aerospace capabilities as it looks to satisfy a number of upcoming requirements of both the Republic of Korea Air Force (RoKAF) and Navy (RoKN), a company spokesperson told IHS Jane's on 25 October.

Speaking ahead of the Seoul International Aerospace and Defence Exhibition (ADEX) in South Korea, Ian Elliot, Vice President Defence Capability Marketing, outlined a number of key RoKAF and RoKN requirements and the solutions that Airbus Military is looking to offer in order to fulfill them.

According to Elliot, the key areas of focus are the RoKAF Republic of Korea Transport Programme, Large Transport Programme, and Tanker Programme, as well as the Maritime Patrol Aircraft (MPA) Programme for the RoKN.

The RoKAF Republic of Korea Transport Programme and Large Transport Programme are two separate requirements geared at replacing the ageing Lockheed Martin C-130H Hercules platforms that have been in service since the late 1980s, while affording the air force a strategic airlift capability.

While the RoKAF has already committed to the procurement of four C-130J-30 Hercules platforms to be delivered in 2014, Airbus Military feels that its A400M Atlas aircraft might be an appropriate addition to the fleet. In terms of the RoKAF's strategic requirement, an anticipated Boeing C-17 Globemaster III purchase has not materialised, and with a payload of 37 tonnes the A400M would be able to offer a strategic counterpart to the tactical C-130J-30.

"We are steadily increasing the awareness of A400M in Korea, targeting the future needs of the RoKAF," Elliot told IHS Jane's . "It is generally recognised that the RoKAF transport fleet is ageing and includes some very old aircraft, all of which will need replacing in due course, [and] we believe that the A400M provides an attractive opportunity to dramatically enhance the transport capability of the RoKAF as an expansion of the fleet as Korea becomes a more assertive player in the international arena. We are working to keep the RoKAF aware of the A400M's capability and we look forward to responding to any solicitation in future."

For the Republic of Korea Tanker Programme, Elliot said that the Airbus Military A300-200 MultiRole Tanker Transport (MRTT) aircraft "is the ideal candidate … due to low operating costs, growth capability, low risk and early delivery dates". This requirement for four aerial refuelling aircraft is likely to come down to a straight fight between Airbus Military and Boeing with its KC-46 offering. Both types operate both the boom and 'hose-and-drogue' refuelling methods required of the RoKAF's receiver fleet, and while the A330-200 MRTT is the larger and more capable platform, the KC-46 will benefit from the economies of scale that comes with a 179-unit US Air Force order.

Finally, the European manufacturer is looking to offer the MPA-variant of its C295 transport aircraft to the RoKN to fulfill that service's anti-submarine requirement. With the torpedo-armed type having been operated by the Chilean Navy since 2011, Elliot said the C295 is "a modern and risk-free choice to replace the veteran and ageing P-3 Orion". While the RoKN is already looking to upgrade its Lockheed Martin P-3C platforms, it is looking for an additional 20 or so aircraft to augment these veteran aircraft.

If fully realised, these requirements combined could take in a great many platforms and be worth billions of dollars, making South Korea a key target for Airbus Military and others. While the southern half of the Korean peninsula has traditionally opted to procure its military kit from the United States, the RoKN's choice earlier in 2013 to go with the AgustaWestland AW159 Lynx Wildcat over the Lockheed Martin-Sikorsky MH-60 Seahawk hints at this not necessarily always being so in future. Airbus Military in particular will be hoping that decision represents the emergence of a trend, as opposed to a blip.

Source: http://www.janes.com/article/28957/adex ... sales-opps