17 Februari 2012

ACAB is specialized in advanced radar dome technology (photo : Volvo Aero)

The Volvo Aero owned company, Applied Composites AB – ACAB – has been appointed by LIG Nex1, a LIG Group company in South Korea, for the development of a prototype stealth radome for the KFX aircraft programme.

ACAB is recognized as one of the leading European suppliers of advanced composite components for military applications. Among other things, ACAB is specialized in advanced radome technology, including the latest generation stealth and low-observable technology. ACAB has supported and supplied Saab for over half a century with radome technology for the Saab fighter programmes. ACAB is the supplier of the Gripen fighter radomes.

LIG Nex1 is South Korea’s number one company on military products. LIG Nex1 is working in close collaboration with advanced global companies. LIG Nex1 is developing state-of-the-art weapon systems, including radar and surveillance systems.

The radome (radar dome) is the streamlined structural part in the nose of the aircraft which protects the radar antenna from wind and weather. It is carefully designed to withstand the mechanical loads without compromising the radar performance. In addition, it increases the survivability of the aircraft due to its sophisticated stealth features.

The KFX aircraft is intended to replace South Korea’s aging F-4 Phantom II and F-5 Tiger II aircraft. The production numbers are estimated to exceed 250 aircraft. The contract includes exploratory development and production of prototypes for an undisclosed contract value. It is still too early to determine the number of people at ACAB that will be involved in development and production.

“We are very proud of and pleased with the contract from LIG Nex1 since it consolidates our position as world leader in radomes” says Torgny Stenholm, President of ACAB.

“In addition, the agreement is considered to be strategically important for ACAB as the company has plans to expand within the commercial and military aerospace segments”, he adds.

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On the arrangements for signing the contract for the Su-30MK2 said a source who participated in the negotiations on Russia's part. "We have already met with Defense Minister Purnomo Yusgiantoro of Indonesia and Air Force Commander Air Marshal of the country Imam Sufaat detail verbalize questions about cooperation, but now we have reached a new level - the source says," and "Even before the new year we expect to sign the final contract to supply Indonesia six Sukhoi Su-30MK2. " He noted that they will meet for two aircraft plants - in Irkutsk and KNAAPO (for a uniform load of enterprises).

Disclose the contract value interviewee refused, citing the fact that Indonesia is still not fully decided on the types of weapons that must be installed on the fighters. However, the source, who participated in the negotiations on the part of Indonesia, said that the amount of the contract is "in no case less than $ 500 million." Will the new Su-30MK2 purchased for cash or on credit, the parties did not specify. Note that the previous delivery (for example, a contract for the delivery of Su-27SKM worth about $ 300 million) in Indonesia is carried out at the expense of Russia issued the loan.

"Regardless of what form will be paid for the six Su-30MK2, this is a big success for Russia - the director of the Center for Analysis of Strategies and Technologies Ruslan Pukhov .- Given the increased interest of America, Indonesia, offering to buy for the money used F- 16 aircraft, Indonesia would this deal with Russia to slow down. However, it did not, that is good news."

Earlier, Indonesia has received from Russia ten fighter brand "Sukhoi." Under the contract signed in September 2003, the Air Force Indonesia received two Su-30MK and two Su-27SKM. And in 2007, purchased six aircraft - three Su-27SKM and Su-30MK2 (their delivery was completed in September 2010). All in all, as stated in late September, Mr. Yusgiantoro, by 2024, "in order to protect the country's sovereignty Indonesia is going to buy 180 fighter jets, staffed by ten squadrons of aircraft."

Rosoboronexport yesterday from the official declined to comment.

(Kommersant)

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India's contract process to buy 126 fighter jets valued at about $11 billion is "going smoothly" and is expected to be completed in the fiscal year ending March 2012, Defence Minister A.K. Antony said on Wednesday.
Saab's JAS-39 Gripen is competing with Boeing's F/A-18 Super Hornet, Dassault's Rafale, Lockheed Martin Corp's F-16 and Russia's MiG-35 to win a contract from India for the fighter jets.
Cassidian, the recently renamed defence arm of EADS and a partner in the Eurofighter Typhoon, is also vying for the Indian fighter award. Eurofighter is a four-nation consortium of EADS, representing Germany and Spain, Britain's BAE Systems and Italy's Finmeccanica .
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The Russian-Indian joint development of a fifth generation fighter jet will cost some $6 billion, Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd. (HAL) Financial director D. Shivamurti said
Russia and India signed in December last year a contract to jointly develop a design for a new 5G multirole fighter. Russia's Sukhoi holding and India's Hindustan Aeronautics Limited agreed in early 2010 to jointly develop a fifth-generation fighter jet based on the T-50 design.
"A detailed design phase, including the cost of the project, is likely to cost more than $6 billion," Shivamurti said. "The work between us and them [India and Russia] will be distributed in a 35/65 proportion."

Russia has been developing its own fifth-generation fighter since the 1990s. The current prototype, known as the T-50, was designed by the Sukhoi design bureau and built at a plant in Komsomolsk-on-Amur in Russia's Far East.
Russian officials have already hailed the fighter as "a unique warplane" that combines the capabilities of an air superiority fighter and attack aircraft.
Russia is planning to use the jointly-developed 5G fighter as an export version of T-50, while India is expecting the new fighter aircraft to enter service with its air force by 2020.
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