Defence Business: Airbus Military sees further growth in Asia-Pacific market | ADM July 2013

Airbus Military has chalked up significant sales in the Asia-Pacific region and in 2012 it sold its C-295 Medium transport in Indonesia and became the preferred bidder for an Indian Air Force order for six airborne tankers. It also recently signed an agreement with Indonesian Aerospace for the development of an updated version of the C-212 light transport, known as the NC-212i.

The company is predicting sales across its portfolio during 2013 and began a high-profile marketing campaign for its A400M heavy transport aircraft at the Paris Airshow in June. In the region it already has Malaysia as a customer for the aircraft, who will take delivery of its first aircraft in December next year.

Despite predictions of flat defence spending in traditional markets such as Europe over the next five to ten years, Airbus Military sees prospects on almost every continent and in June unveiled an improved version of the C-295, the C-295W.

Asia-Pacfic market
In 2012 Airbus Military sold 42 examples of its CN235/C-295 medium transport aircraft across all markets and, according to Rafael Tentor, Senior Vice President Programs, lost out only in Australia, where the C-295 was beaten by the Alenia Aermacchi C-27J Spartan for the RAAFs AIR 8000 Phase 2 (Battlefield Airlifter) requirement.

Tentor says that his company has sold a total of 1,086 aircraft to 138 customers in 66 countries, including current orders from partner nations (and Malaysia) for 174 A400Ms.

Total sales in the Asia-Pacific region include five KC-30A Multi Role Tanker Transports (Australia), nine C-295s, 74 CN235s and 146 C212s as well as the Malaysian A400Ms.

In the light and medium transport sector, Tentor says Airbus Military has short-term marketing campaigns in India and Vietnam and in the longer term in NZ, the Philippines, Malaysia, Indonesia, Bangladesh, Taiwan and Thailand.
In the tanker market Singapore and South Korea are identified as potential customers and the company says it also foresees a repeat order from the RAAF, for a sixth KC-30A.

With regard to the A400M, Tentor says the marketing campaign could only begin in earnest after the first deliveries to the French Air Force in June, but the company has already held discussions with more than one country in the region. Both NZ and Australia are viewed as future customers, replacing the C-130J and C-130H in coming years.

Light & medium transports and C-295W launch
Airbus Military used its annual Trade Media Briefing (TMB13), this year in Seville to launch the latest variant of the C-295 family, which promises improved hot and high performance and greater endurance.

The C-295W (for Winglets) promises a three to six per cent improvement in overall fuel consumption over the baseline aircraft and a payload increase of 1,500 kg at 25,000 feet.

In addition to the winglets, the improvements are the result of a study by engine manufacturer Pratt & Whitney Canada in 2011 to improve climb and ceiling performance. This resulted in uprating the PW127 engines and is already certified and incorporated into the C-295 flight manual.

The winglets themselves add 30 kilograms each to the empty weight of the C-295W and strengthening of the wing structure adds another 30 kilograms.
Tentor says that certification flight testing will begin early next year and certification by INTA, the Spanish military airworthiness authority will follow in the second quarter. The first delivery to a customer will occur at the end of 2014, by which time the C-295W will have become the standard production version.

Indonesia is currently taking delivery of an initial batch of nine C-295s and India has a requirement for 56 aircraft to replace its elderly Avro (HS748) fleet, so there is significant potential for C-295W sales in the region.
At the Langkawi International Maritime and Aerospace (LIMA) show in March, Airbus Military signed an agreement with Indonesia Aerospace for the development and marketing of the NC-212i, an updated variant of the evergreen C-212.

The new aircraft will be built in Indonesia and jointly marketed by Indonesian Aerospace and Airbus Military and the improvements include new cockpit displays and autopilot, a Traffic Collision and Avoidance System (TCAS) and cockpit voice recorder.

MRTT
The Multi-Role Tanker Transport program did not achieve any sales in 2012, but it has already achieved some significant technical milestones in 2012 and as mentioned earlier, looks likely to win several orders in 2013.

Key among the achievements was the granting of RAAF KC-30A Initial Operating Capability by Defence Minister Stephen Smith at the Avalon Airshow earlier this year and the world-wide fleet has already 4,000 hours under its belt.

Work is continuing on the Enhanced Airbus Refuelling Boom System (ARBS) to incorporate modifications specified by Australia following the boom separation incident in January 2011 and INTA certification is expected later this year. To support the trials, a second RAAF KC-30A has returned to Airbus Military’s facility at Getafe, outside Madrid, to act as the receiver during KC-30A to KC-30A refuelling trials. Australian Operational Test and Evaluation is due to commence late this year and will continue into 2014.

With regard to export sales, Rafael Tentor said that the Indian contract will hopefully be signed during the year and the MRTT is also the preferred choice for the French Air Force, which requires between 12 and 14 aircraft fitted with an upper deck cargo door.

Tentor also revealed that the company submitted its final offer to Singapore in late May, against the island state’s requirements for six tankers. In Singapore, Airbus Military is competing with the Boeing KC-46A and a conversion of civil 767-300s offered by Israel Aircraft Industries.

Beyond India and Singapore, Airbus Military sees South Korea as the next in line for a tanker program, but also thinks Australia will come back for a sixth aircraft despite no formal requirement at the time of writing.

The year of A400M
With deliveries of the delayed A400M heavy airlifter program finally getting under way in the middle of the year, Tentor says Airbus Military’s attention is now turning towards an intensive marketing campaign to win export orders.
Total of 174 aircraft remain on the order books, but at least Germany and Spain are reviewing their commitment to the European program.

Despite that, Head of A400M Program Cedric Gautier predicts the sale of a further 400 aircraft over the next 30 years. “The A400M will become the benchmark airlifter for the 21st century. 2013 will be the year of the A400M, ” he said. 

Note: The writer travelled to Seville as a guest of Airbus Military.