DTN News - DEFENSE NEWS: Pratt & Whitney Eyes Asia Growth To Offset F-35 DelaysDTN News - DEFENSE NEWS: Pratt & Whitney Eyes Asia Growth To Offset F-35 Delays

DTN News - DEFENSE NEWS:  Pratt & Whitney Eyes Asia Growth To Offset F-35 Delays

 (NSI News Source Info) TORONTO, Canada / SINGAPORE - February 15, 2012: U.S. aircraft engine manufacturer Pratt & Whitney seeks to increase its post-sales operations, especially in Asia, to mitigate the impact of the U.S slowing its procurement of the F-35 fighter jets, President David Hess said Tuesday.

The maker of engines for the F-35 jet and a unit of conglomerate United Technologies Corp. (UTX), Pratt & Whitney is also experiencing slowing engine sales for older aircraft models, but "we've got other opportunities out there to try and fill the gap," such as by increasing after-sales repair and engineering work, and original equipment manufacturing, Hess told Dow Jones Newswires in an interview.

The U.S. intends to slow the pace of its F-35 procurement program as part of plans to slash a burgeoning deficit, even as some foreign buyers of the fighter--such as the U.K. and Italy--have signaled reductions to their orders. At the same time, Pratt & Whitney is "seeing engine delivery rates declining for some of the legacy programs, like the F-22 (fighter jet), C-17 (transport aircraft), and the F-15s and F-16s (fighters)," Hess said on the sidelines of the Singapore Airshow.

The company also plans to expand its other business segments, including securing more maintenance and repair tie-ups with airlines and military clients.

It announced Tuesday at the Singapore Airshow a number of such deals, such as one with Asiana Airlines Inc. (020560.SE) to maintain engines for three of the carrier's jets, and another to provide engine maintenance for the Royal Jordanian Air Force's F-16 fighters. Pratt & Whitney also secured a contract to provide engines for Korean Air Lines Co.'s (003490.SE) five new Airbus A330 aircraft.

"We see our headcount in Asia Pacific growing significantly in the next five to ten years, particularly as we start to deliver our next generation engines and need more support here," Hess said.

The company has about 4,000 employees in Singapore, China and India, and Hess said headcount growth for this region would be "disproportionately" higher compared to that in North America, declining to give specific figures.

Commercial aviation will be Pratt & Whitney's main well of growth in this region, although military spending could also tick higher amid shifting geopolitical stakes as China expands its armed forces.

"I don't think (growth in military expenditure) will be to the same extent as we see in commercial aviation, as the military opportunities are distributed across the world," Hess said.

"But certainly we're seeing opportunities in Asia, with Japan ordering the F-35, and Singapore being a security partner on the program, and with South Korea and possibly other Asia-Pacific countries looking at acquiring aircraft," he added.

http://defense-technologynews.blogspot.com/2012/02/dtn-news-defense-news-pratt-whitney.html

DTN News - SINGAPORE DEFENSE NEWS: Singapore Seeks Tankers, Tranports, ASW

DTN News - SINGAPORE DEFENSE NEWS: Singapore Seeks Tankers, Tranports, ASW

 (NSI News Source Info) TORONTO, Canada - February 11, 2012: Airbus Military could be one of the main beneficiaries of the Singapore air force’s next round of procurements. Singapore has at the top of its procurement list aerial refueling tankers, strategic airlifters and anti-submarine warfare fixed-wing aircraft, purchases that will see that the island continues to be, for the next few years at least, the biggest spender on new defense equipment in Southeast Asia.

The 2011 defense budget was SG$12.1 billion ($9.6 billion), accounting for 26% of the government budget and about 5% of gross domestic product (GDP). Some analysts estimate that Singapore, with a population of about five million, spends more on defense per capita than any country but Israel.

Defense has always been a top priority, ever since Singapore gained independence in 1965. The nation’s founder, Lee Kwan Yew, recently said in the book Hard Truths, that “without a strong defense, there will be no Singapore. It will become a satellite, cowed and intimidated by its neighbors.”

Singapore has close defense ties with Israel, a point that is downplayed—because it is politically sensitive—but one that is important to remember because it explains why Israeli companies are short-listed by the Singaporeans for upcoming defense purchases. The Israelis are in the running to supply aerial refueling tankers and anti-submarine warfare fixed-wing aircraft.

Aerial refueling tankers are at the top of the list because the air force needs to replace its four Boeing KC-135Rs. An important requirement is that the new tankers be able to assist the air force’s Boeing F-15SGs flying between Singapore and its overseas detachment at Mountain Home AFB, Idaho.

The Boeing KC-46A would ordinarily be the front-runner but Boeing may have to struggle to win the Singapore contract. The manufacturer is already committed to deliver 18 KC-46As to the U.S. Air Force by 2017, leaving no early delivery slots for foreign customers. A Boeing official told Aviation Week in July 2011 that it can deliver KC-46As to foreign customers as early as 2018. But that may be too late for Singapore. Industry executives say Singapore’s air force has been complaining about the difficulty and cost of maintaining the aging KC-135Rs. But the need to secure aerial refueling tankers sooner rather than later creates an opportunity for Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI), which converts 767s to tankers.

However, industry executives familiar with the situation say the front-runner in this competition is the Airbus Military A330 Multi-Role Tanker Transport (MRTT). Australian air force officials told DTI at the LIMA air show in Malaysia in December that the Singapore air force was interested in the A330MRTT and that the organizers of the Singapore air show were pushing to have a Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) tanker on display there. The RAAF, however, has declined the request. They say the only reason the A330MRTT was brought to LIMA was because it had to be in Malaysia for a joint military exercise.

http://defense-technologynews.blogspot.com/2012/02/dtn-news-singapore-defense-news_11.html

DTN News - SINGAPORE DEFENSE NEWS: Singapore Air Force (RSAF) Steps Up Deterrent Capabilities

DTN News - SINGAPORE DEFENSE NEWS: Singapore Air Force (RSAF) Steps Up Deterrent Capabilities

 (NSI News Source Info) TORONTO, Canada - February 2, 2012: This month's Singapore air show falls on the 70th anniversary of the fall of Singapore to Japan in the Second World War. While Asia is an unimaginably different place now, Singapore's leaders have never forgotten the speed with which Singapore fell - or the three years of brutal occupation that followed.

Memories of the war have played no small part in the development of Singapore's world-class military, backed with what is unquestionably southeast Asia's most powerful air force. While Singapore will never have the strategic depth of a larger nation, its advanced military will create a "poison shrimp" dynamic to give any aggressor pause.

The Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) is unique in southeast Asia. Apart from being the region's largest, it is also the best trained, led, and equipped. It places a high priority on maintaining its equipment to ensure both readiness and safety. While political concerns are inevitably a part of acquisition decisions, it chooses aircraft and weapons systems based mainly on their utility in combat - something that is not always the primary consideration in other countries.

http://defense-technologynews.blogspot.com/2012/02/dtn-news-singapore-defense-news.html

DTN News ~ US-NATO-ISRAEL WAR PLANS TO ATTACK IRAN: Will US Go To War With Iran?

DTN News ~ US-NATO-ISRAEL WAR PLANS TO ATTACK IRAN: Will US Go To War With Iran?

 (NSI News Source Info) TORONTO, Canada - January 14, 2012: As sparks fly dangerously close to the powder keg of US-Iranian relations, speculations are rife and rumors spread like wildfire. Will there be a war? Who wants it? And what will happen to this very lucrative region?

Google the words “Iran”, “USA” and “war” and you get over 140 million hits. Many believe the possibility of a military conflict between the two is not even a question of “if”but a question of “when”. And there is definitely enough evidence around to lend support to these beliefs.

Let’s break it down. Will there be a war? According to Israeli military analysts quoted by Global Research, an independent research and media organization, that possibility is “dangerously close”. But let’s say analysts, especially military ones, are of the boy-scout-always-be-prepared disposition by nature. What other evidence is there?

Occam’s razor states that the simplest explanation is the most plausible. Logic tells us to follow the money – and in this case, the cases of weapons shipped out by the US. So where are they headed to?

In October 2010, the US negotiated a $67 billion deal with Saudi Arabia to supply the latter with bunker-buster bombs, F-15 fighter jets, Black Hawk and Apache helicopters, Patriot-2 missiles and warships. It is, in simple terms, the LARGEST bilateral weapons deal in US history.

One month later, in November, the Wall Street Journal revealed that the United States will proved the United Arab Emirates with “thousands of advanced ‘bunker-buster’ bombs and other munitions, part of a stepped-up US effort to build a regional coalition to counter Iran.”

Washington also plans to supply Stinger and other missiles to Oman. Kuwait is in for $900 million worth of Patriot missiles. And a $53 billion arms deal with Bahrain is still on the agenda – delayed only because of pressure from international lawmakers and human rights groups.

So the United States is increasing military ties with its allies, one might claim. And it is true, but all those allies are conveniently located in the Persian Gulf…right next to Iran. 

It’s not just weapons, either. Israel, Bahrain, Kuwait and Oman all have US military bases on their territory. And with the US most likely asking NATO in for a piece of the action, alliance members like Turkey are perfectly positioned to lend a helping hand. Besides being conveniently close geographically, Ankara has also been holding on to a lot of US nuclear weapons, including a large number of B61 bombs. 

But all this does, effectively, is highlight the military capabilities of the US in the region. Categorically stating all this is being done by the Department of Defense as part of a preparation for war with Iran would be irresponsible – until the Pentagon men say so themselves.

http://defense-technologynews.blogspot.com/2012/01/dtn-news-us-nato-israel-war-plans-to.html