Alenia Aermacchi is back at the Singapore Airshow 2012 with the first two T-346 jet trainers built for the Italian Air Force. These jets are of special interest for Singapore, since the Singapore Air Force is about to receive its own 12 aircraft of this type, ordered in 2010 under an international contract to supply these aircraft through the consortium formed by ST Aerospace (prime contractor) and Boeing. In June 2011, Alenia
Aermacchi finalized contracts with ST Aerospace to provide logistics support for the RSAF’s fleet of M-346s, again as part of the Fighter Wings Course (FWC) program. The M-346 has also been selected for a jet trainer program in the UAE. Two Italian Air Force’s M-346 aircraft (T-346A) and a C-27J will be displayed at the Singapore Air Show. According to the company, there are also some interesting opportunities for the C-27J in Asia – Indonesia in particular.
Another competitor for the Asian jet trainer market is the Yak-130. According to the Russian aircraft company UAC, the company has made the first deliveries of export orders in 2011. The Yak-130 is positioned providing the highest level training for both Russian and foreign 4+ and 5 generation aircraft, and is best suited for pilot training in the Asia-Pacific region. UAC estimates the world market capacity for Yak-130 aircraft in the middle-term in
about 250 aircraft. Air forces operating Russian Su-27, 30 and MiG-29 are most likely to consider the Russian trainer.
A third major player in the Asian market is the korean T-50, which is already operational with the Republic of Korea Air Force and will soon enter service with the Indonesian Air Force. Korean Aerospace Industries (KAI) is promoting the aircraft throughout the world, and has been selected among the finalists in Poland and Israel.
prospects in relation to the replacement of the Singapore Navy’s patrol aircraft and the supply of ATR 42 and ATR 72 maritime patrol aircraft (MPA) to the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) and the Philippines’ Air Force. A model of the ATR 42 MP, the maritime patrol version of the ATR 42 is displayed at the Finmeccanica stand.
For the Finmeccanica group company, Singapore and the Asia region are a fundamental part of its growth strategy, offering business opportunities in the short and medium term. Through the Italo-French joint venture ATR (Alenia Aermacchi/EADS), the company has formed a close relationship with Singapore, and more generally South East Asia, not only by selling a large number of regional transport aircraft, but also by opening a customer
support centre in Singapore and training facilities in Bangkok and Kuala Lumpur. Furthermore, it has some exciting
