Oman Considering To Acquire German Leopard Tanks

The Sultanate of Oman is interested in acquiring tanks from German company Krauss-Maffei Wegmann (KMW), according to a press report.

The German magazine Der Spiegel writes that a possible deal could result in delivery of more than 70 Leopard main battle tanks for about  €2 billion (US $2.2 billion).

A German parliamentary official confirmed the details of the report.

In addition to KMW, the sultanate also invited a Turkish producer to bid for the tank contract, says the article.

No spokesman at KMW was available for comment.

Turkish company Otokar developed the Altay battle tank on the basis of a South Korean license. However, in October it was made public that Austrian company AVL LIST was contracted to support Turkish engine producer Tümosan on the project.

Germany`s federal security council recently cleared the shipment of a Leopard 2 to Oman for demonstration purposes. But the export of arms to Mideast countries regularly sparks fierce debates in Germany as many people oppose such deliveries.

Shortly before the news about Oman broke, Germany`s Minister of Economics Sigmar Gabriel declared that he was not happy with the delivery of more than 60 Leopard 2s and two dozen howitzers to Qatar, but that he could not stop the deal as it was approved by the previous government.

So far, Oman has relied on the British-built Challenger 2. The Challenger, unusual among main battle tanks used by Western armies, has a rifled main gun. Experts said it is unclear if future improvements to the ammunition used by the tank will continue. The British Army is the only other operator of the tank.

Lebanon Confirms A-29 Super Tucano Purchase

Lebanon has finalized the acquisition of six A-29 Super Tucano turboprop aircraft from Embraer Defense & Security and Sierra Nevada Corporation, an Embraer official said at the Dubai Air Show Monday.

The contract, which includes logistics support for aircraft operations, as well as a complete training system for Lebanese Air Force pilots and mechanics, was approved in June by the US State Department.

"The United States Air Force has bought the Super Tucano for Afghanistan and now for Lebanon," Jackson Schneider, president and CEO of Embraer Defense & Security, told Defense News.

"The selection of the A-29 by the Lebanese Air Force is a great testament to the superiority of the Super Tucano and its ability to meet the challenges of the operating theater in the Middle East," said Schneider. "The Super Tucano is the best and most capable aircraft in the market with a proven record of success with Air Forces around the world."

He added that Embraer have now sold more than 200 aircraft with more than 30,000 combat hours to 13 clients.

"Worldwide now we are participating in 10 new sales campaigns," Schneider added.

The aircraft sale is part of a larger, more comprehensive package, including infrastructure improvements, that will be fulfilled by other parties not involved in the Ember/SNC partnership, the Brazilian company said in a statement. The planes, which are currently in operation with 10 Air Forces around the world, will be built in the company's Jacksonville, Florida, facility.

Lebanese Air Force Sources expect the first delivery of the plane by January 2017.

As the US recalibrates its strategy in Syria, it has identified increasing military aid to Lebanon as a key part of its solution.

At an Oct. 30 meeting to announce the Pentagon's new strategy in Syria, a senior US defense official identified "reinforcing" Jordan and Lebanon as a key focus area for the next year. That includes ongoing funding for the two nations, with Jordan, in particular, benefiting from "hundreds of millions" of dollars.

The LAF is completing work for specifications on weapons systems, according to Riad Kahwaji, Chief Executive of the Institute for Near East and Gulf Military Analysis.

"Lebanon is looking for a larger variety of standoff weapons integrated which include Mark83 and Mark84 low drag smart bombs," Kahwaji said. He added that the program is proceeding as scheduled, and in the next few months pilots will be dispatched to the US and Brazil for training.

"We are excited at the opportunity to provide Lebanon with these aircraft, which are proving to be an innovative and cost-effective solution for demanding military organizations around the world. It is ideal for the missions and operational environment faced by Lebanon and a host of other nations. We look forward to helping the Lebanese achieve a modern Air Force through use of the A-29 Super Tucano," said Taco Gilbert, vice president of business development for SNC's ISR business area.

The Brazilian aerospace manufacturer has seen the turboprop product expanding its African presence with sales to the governments of Mali and Ghana announced at the Paris Air Show earlier this year.

Embraer has also sold the Super Tucano A-29 to four other  African customers: Angola, Burkina Faso, Senegal and Mauritania.

AVIC Gives A Shock With Its New Stealth Fighter

Chinese airframer AVIC has delivered a shock at Dubai by revealing a surprising level of detail about its proposed FC-31 Gyrfalcon fifth-generation multi-role fighter, even though the type has yet to secure a launch customer.

The aircraft being promoted appears to be a follow-on development of the company’s J-31, a mysterious black fighter aircraft that appeared in at the flying display at Airshow China in Zhuhai last November. The J-31 had its first flight in 2012, but virtually no details have been publicly released.

In a Dubai press briefing, Gyrfalcon designer Lin Peng said the FC-31 is envisaged as a low-observable jet with “multi-spectrum, low-observability characteristics.”

The fighter will be capable of a range of missions, including offensive/defence counter air, deep strike, suppression of enemy air defences, interdiction, close air support, and intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance.

In a video shown during the presentation, a squadron of FC-31s communicated with each other through secure datalinks. Another slide showed how the aircraft’s small cross section reduces the threat radius of enemy sensors and weapons.
No details were given about the FC-31’s sensor suite or weapons, but AVIC says this equipment and communications equipment can be tailored to customer requirements.

The aircraft has six external hardpoints, with an internal weapons bay that can carry a further four munitions. Payload is 8,000kg (17,600lb), of which 2,000kg can be carried internally. Combat radius with internal weapons is 648nm (1,200km), and maximum take-off weight is 25,000kg (55,000lb).

The first flight of a production example is planned for 2019, followed by initial operating capability in 2022 and final operating capability three years' later.

AVIC’s disclosures were striking given the veil of secrecy that has covered the J-31 programme – at Zhuhai, company representatives flatly declined to discuss the aircraft or its performance characteristics.

Still, there is a great deal of mystery about the FC-31. AVIC did not allow time for a question and answer session after the briefing, obliging reporters to crowd around executives as they attempted to exit the chalet.

During this ad hoc Q&A it emerged that the FC-31 has yet to find a launch customer, although there are discussions with the Chinese air force. Executives also decline to comment on the engines that power the J-31, believed to be the Klimov RD-93s that power the RAC MiG-29, or the powerplants for the FC-31.

Achieving the first flight in 2019 is also contingent upon securing a "well-funded" customer, it says.

Defense Exhibitors At Dubai Airshow - 2015

Defence suppliers are flocking to do business at the Dubai Airshow, taking place from 8-12 November 2015, with many key names confirmed to exhibit at Dubai World Central (DWC). In addition, first time exhibitors have chosen this year to join the market leaders from all over the world when they converge on Dubai.

Some of the key exhibitors in this sector include Lockheed Martin, Raytheon, Boeing and Dassault, with new exhibitors including Oshkosh and Roketsan. Roketsan, exhibiting at the Dubai Airshow for the first time in 2015, is a Turkish company which designs, develops and manufactures rockets and missiles including air defence systems, precision guided systems and turnkey facilities.

The Dubai Airshow will see the return of the prestigious Delegations Programme in which civil and military delegations from across the world are invited to participate, co-ordinated by show organisers F&E Aerospace, in conjunction with Dubai’s Department of Civil Aviation Authority, the Government of Dubai and the UAE Ministry of Defence.

In addition, Unmanned Aerial Vehicles continue to capture the industry’s interest, and will be represented at the show. Major participants in the UAV sector at the 2013 show included Adcom, BAE Systems, Northrop Grumman, Saab and Tawazun; all of whom will be returning this year.

Michele van Akelijen, Managing Director of organisers F&E Aerospace, says, “The Dubai Airshow is the most effective the way to do business in the Middle East, and the networking value is immeasurable. The region’s business culture is all about face-to-face communication and where personal business relationships are highly valued.”

Organised under the patronage of HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, the Dubai Airshow is held in co-operation with the UAE Armed Forces, Dubai Civil Aviation Authority and Dubai Airports.

Source: Dubai Airshow Web