Agadir, 01/04/08 - SAR le prince Soltane Ibn Abdelaziz, prince héritier d'Arabie saoudite, vice-président du Conseil des ministres, ministre de la Défense et de l'aviation et inspecteur général, est arrivé lundi soir à Agadir pour une visite privée au Maroc. A son arrivée à l'aéroport Agadir-Al Massira, le prince Soltane Ibn Abdelaziz a été accueilli par SAR le Prince Moulay Rachid.Par la suite, le Prince Héritier d'Arabie saoudite a été salué par le wali de la région Sous-Massa-Draâ, gouverneur de la préfecture d'Agadir-Ida Outanane, M. Rachid Filali, le gouverneur d'Inzeggane-Ait Melloul, M. Mohamed Moudden Alami, ainsi que par l'ambassadeur d'Arabie saoudite au Maroc, M.Mohamed Ben Abderrahmane Al Bichr, et l'attaché militaire de l'ambassade.Après avoir passé en revue un détachement des Forces Armées Royales qui rendait les honneurs, le Prince Soltane Ibn Abdelaziz a été également salué par les élus, les représentants des autorités locales et par d'autres personnalités civiles et militaires.
General F-16 NewsLockheed Martin to supply Morocco with F-16sMay 31, 2008 (by Asif Shamim) - On Friday, Lockheed Martin Aeronautical Co. was awarded a fixed contract valued at $233.6M to begin production of 24 block 52 F-16s for Morocco.The Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) had notified Congress of a possible Foreign Military Sale to Morocco back in December 2007. The total value of the sale will be $2.4 billion and contracts the sale of the jets, engines, support equipment and associated weapons.Lockheed Martin will have a backlog of about 125 F-16s to produce at its Fort Worth plant. Productions have notably reduced as the backlog has decreased. Company officials expect 30 jets to produced this year and with the existing backlog keeping the production line going till 2011
Lockheed gets US contract for Morocco F-16 jetsThu Jun 5, 2008 6:17pm EDTWASHINGTON, June 5 (Reuters) - Lockheed Martin Corp is receiving a U.S. Air Force contract worth up to $233.6 million to start supplying 24 F-16 fighter aircraft and related hardware to Morocco, the Defense Department said on Thursday.The contract supports a U.S. government-to-government sale that the Pentagon has said could ultimately be worth as much as $2.4 billion if all options are exercised.The Bush administration told Congress on Dec. 18 that Morocco had requested a major weapons package in addition to the F-16C/D Block 50/52 aircraft, including targeting pods, tactical air reconnaissance systems and electronic warfare suites.Other major contractors on the sale include BAE Systems Plc , Boeing Co, Raytheon Co, Northrop Grumman Corp and L-3 Communications Holdings Inc .
Lockheed Martin: 24 F-16 pour le Maroc Le constructeur aéronautique américain Lockheed Martin a annoncé que le Maroc avait officialisé sa commande de 24 avions de chasse F-16, selon un communiqué.Le lancement de la production des appareils fait l'objet d'un premier contrat, valorisé 233,6 millions de dollars, selon le communiqué.En décembre, le Pentagone avait informé le Congrès américain de son intention de vendre au Maroc 24 avions de chasse F-16 du groupe américain Lockheed Martin, ainsi que des équipements et des services associés, pour un montant total pouvant aller jusqu'à 2,4 milliards de dollars.Les F-16 américains étaient en concurrence au Maroc avec le Rafale du français Dassault, qui n'a jamais décroché de marché à l'export.L'échec de la vente du Rafale au royaume chérifien, face au chasseur américain, avait été annoncé en octobre."Nous sommes heureux que l'aviation militaire marocaine ait retenu le F-16 pour moderniser sa flotte d'avions de chasse", a indiqué John Larson, le vice-président du programme F-16 au sein de Lockheed Martin.Le Maroc est le 25ème pays à s'équiper de F-16, selon le communiqué.
Pratt & Whitney Selected to Power Royal Moroccan Air Force F-16sThe Pratt & Whitney F100-PW-229 engine has been selected by the Royal Moroccan Air Force to power their new fleet of F-16 Block 52 aircraft. The engine program, sold through the U.S. Government's Foreign Military Sales program, is valued at approximately $170 million and is scheduled for delivery in 2010 and 2011. Pratt & Whitney is a United Technologies Corp. company."We are honored by the Royal Moroccan Air Force's selection of Pratt & Whitney's F100-PW-229 engine to power their F-16s," said Bill Begert, Vice President of Business Development for Pratt & Whitney. "We look forward to a long and successful relationship."The F100-PW-229 engine offers the Royal Moroccan Air Force a lower total cost of ownership and an outstanding record of safety. Incorporating the latest technologies, this propulsion system provides advanced, dependable power for F-16 fighter aircraft around the world. To date, the F100-PW-229 powered aircraft fleet has logged more than 963,000 flight hours in more than 16 years of operational service.The Royal Moroccan Air Force becomes the 22nd international customer to select the F100 engine family. F100 engines power F-16 aircraft utilized throughout region in Belgium, Denmark, Egypt, Greece, Israel, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland and Portugal.The F100-PW-229 is the latest evolution of the F100 family of fighter aircraft engines. Incorporation of the F100-PW-229 Engine Enhancement Package (EEP) -- successfully demonstrated in 2004 -- will lead to the objective of increasing the engine depot inspection interval from seven years to ten years. In addition, the EEP configuration will provide up to a 30 percent life cycle cost reduction over the life the engine. The EEP will also offer significant safety benefits; reducing the predicted in-flight shutdown rate by up to 25 percent. The F100-PW-229 engine is the only fighter engine funded and qualified by the U.S. Air Force to the 6000 cycle capability.Pratt & Whitney military engines include the F135 for the F-35 Lightning II, the F119 for the F-22 Raptor, the F100 family that powers the F-15 and F-16, the F117 for the C-17 Globemaster III, the J52 for the EA-6B Prowler, the TF33 powering AWACS, Joint STARS, B-52, and KC-135 aircraft, and the TF30 for the F-111. In addition, Pratt & Whitney offers a global network of MRO and MAS focused on maintaining engine readiness for our customers. Pratt & Whitney is a world leader in the design, manufacture and service of aircraft engines, space propulsion systems and industrial gas turbines. United Technologies, based in Hartford, Conn., is a diversified company providing high technology products and services to the global aerospace and building industries.This press release contains forward-looking statements concerning future business opportunities. Actual results may differ materially from those projected as a result of certain risks and uncertainties, including but not limited to changes in government procurement priorities and practices or in the number of aircraft to be built; challenges in the design, development, production and support of technologies; as well as other risks and uncertainties, including but not limited to those detailed from time to time in United Technologies Corporation's Securities and Exchange Commission filings.
Moroccan visitor4/16/2008 - Mr. Dave Kirkland, a T-6 Texan simulator instructor, orients Lt. Col. Abdelfattah Ben Moussa, Moroccan Air Force, to a T-6 Texan flight simulator as part of his Randolph distinguished visitor tour April 4. Colonel Ben Moussa, a member of the Moroccan T-6 acquisition team, visited Randolph to become familiar with the aircraft and its use as a trainer. (U.S. Air Force photo by Rich McFadden)
RMAF select Goodrich DB-110 reconnaissance podJuly 14, 2008 (by Asif Shamim) - Goodrich Corporation has received a contract from the US Air Force to provide its advanced DB-110 airborne reconnaissance system for the Royal Moroccan Air Force's (RMAF) F-16 block 52 aircraft.The Foreign Military Sale (FMS) contract calls for Goodrich to provide four F-16 reconnaissance pods, data links, multiple ground exploitation systems and related support services. Work will be performed by the company's ISR Systems teams in Chelmsford, USA. and Malvern, UK.Goodrich's DB-110 allows pilots to capture images day or night using electro-optical sensors. Images can then be transmitted back for real time analysis. The system is in use on F-16s operated by the Hellenic (HAF) and Polish (PolAF) Air Forces.Tom Bergeron, President, ISR Systems, Goodrich, said, "The DB-110 system represents the highest reconnaissance capabilities within NATO and provides full interoperability among NATO nation operators. Successful experience on F-16 aircraft in both Greece and Poland assures that the RMAF can expect to receive a high-performance, low-risk proven solution."The DB-110 is deemed to be the most advanced electro-optical infrared (EO/IR) reconnaissance pod available for the F-16. It provides long-range, high-resolution, stand off imaging capabilities. The on-board system can be operated autonomously, with the DB-110 being controlled by the pod's reconnaissance management system.Imagery obtained can be viewed on the F-16's cockpit video display, enabling the pilot to verify targets and conduct tasks such as battle damage assessment. The real-time display also gives the aircrew the ability to seek out targets of opportunity or select alternate route to a specific target.Morocco is acquiring 24 Lockheed Martin block 52+ F-16 advanced multi-role fighters under the FMS program.
Defence Aerospace claims that France’s Rafale offers were 18 jets for EUR 1.8 billion (currently $2.6 billion), or Citar24 jets for EUR 2.4 billion (currently $3.45 billion), along with MBDA’s Mica air-air missiles and AASM laser-guided bombs:“Contrary to earlier reports, Morocco is buying new F-16s, and not surplus US Air Force aircraft. The price it is paying is broadly comparable to that offered by France for the Rafale, giving the lie to reports that Moroccan authorities were swayed by a cut-rate offer made by the United States.France made two offers, one for 18 Rafales for 1.8 billion euros ($2.6 billion), and one for 2.2 billion euros ($3.2 billion) for 24 aircraft. The French offers included a full weapons suite (MICA air-to-air missiles and AASM laser-guided bombs) as well as an extensive ground environment, that Morocco will have to buy separately for the F-16s.”There is little transparency in these sorts of negotiations, so the public may never know the exact answer to Defense Aerospace’s implicit questions. Few would dispute that the Rafale is a significantly better plane, offering Morocco a level of quality overmatch that the F-16C/Ds cannot promise against neighboring Algeria’s MiG-29s and SU-30s. The F-16s’ potential winning edge thus comes down to some combination of the most likely explanations: price, network effects, strategic leverage… and pride.When comparing the offers, the first thing any analysis must note is that a reasonably extensive support network is in fact built into the American offer. Equivalent weapons like the AIM-120 AMRAAM and Paveway II/III kits were not included, but they are unlikely to add more than $200 million to the price of 24 aircraft. An American dollar discount of 45% can still make that an attractive offer; indeed Morocco’s “equivalent choice” actually involves a 33% discount of 24 F-16C/Ds for the price of 18 Rafales, assuming a budget of around $2.6 billion for the aircraft and basic weapons.Depending on relative in-service rates, the difference in aircraft that are actually available for use at any given time could widen further. That’s a significant consideration when the numbers neck down to under 24 aircraft, in order to cover an entire country against a potential opponent who can field over 60 aircraft of comparable or better quality.The second factor to consider is “network effects,” in which the value of a military platform increases with the number of associated choices in weapons et. al. F-16s do have the advantage of offering a much wider set of choices in weapons, targeting pods, engines, and other related equipment. This expands Morocco’s weaponry options to handle a variety of strategic scenarios, and avoids the Rafale’s limiting choices of either accepting supplier lock-in, or pursuing expensive local integration projects. The F-16’s network effects could well be more attractive to a country who values flexibility highly, and understands that flyaway aircraft cost, like the cost of a new car from a dealer, is only the beginning of the real expense of ownership.The 3rd factor to consider is that the F-16 sale may also be set in the context of a wider security relationship with the USA, which would offset Morocco’s aircraft quality differential in a different way. The US DSCA adds that:“The proposed sale will contribute to the foreign policy and national security objectives of the United States by enhancing Morocco’s capacity to support U.S. efforts in the Global War on Terrorism (GWOT), as well as supporting Morocco’s legitimate need for its own self-defense. Morocco is one of the most stable and pro-Western of the Arab states, and the U.S. remains committed to a long-term relationship with Morocco.”That relationship undoubtedly had a role to play getting the American F-16 in the door as an alternative. Many people think that countries sell arms to people they wish to befriend; that is only very partially true. It is more true to say that countries tend to buy arms from nations whom they wish to be their friends, when the potential for a strategic relationship is a factor at all. This helps to explain why the F-16 became Morocco’s #1 alternative instead of (for instance) Sweden’s JAS-39 Gripen. Or cheap Russian fighters, which would be fatally compromised by Russia’s near-certain choice of Algeria and its gas reserves over Morocco in the event of a crisis.While these security relationship dynamics always apply to global weapon purchases, it is very unlikely that they were decisive in winning the deal. If Morocco desires a relationship with the USA that extends to military support in times of crisis, that relationship cannot be dependent on a single minor aircraft sale; given the way America works, it either exists in any event, or it does not exist at all.The last factor to consider is pride. Past reports have indicated that France’s initial sales efforts quoted one price, while a later call to the DGA concerning France’s price per aircraft gave a much lower figure. Negotiations went very cold after that, and serious discussions began with the Americans that would eventually lead to the F-16 sale. In a part of the world known for holding pride and honor in very high esteem, that kind of gaffe tends to have serious consequences. Not serious enough to break Morocco’s relationship with France entirely, of course; France is valued for strategic reasons. It was serious enough, however, that if the French reports are true and Morocco could find a “good enough” alternative, pride and the satisfaction of honor alone could explain the denouement we have seen:Buy American jets to exact redress and serve as a warning to France not to do that again, while improving relations with another powerful ally. Couple that with a EUR 500 million order for a French FREMM frigate to shore up another need, and demonstrate to France that relationship still exists and honor has been satisfied.http://www.defenseindustrydaily.com/mor ... ads-04469/
24 jets for EUR 2.4 billion
Morocco’s Air Force ReloadsMorocco’s formal request for 24 F-16C/D Block 50/52 aircraft as well as associated equipment and services – but not weapons. The total value, if all options are exercised, could be as high as $2.4 billion. The proposed sale includes: * 24 F-16C/D Block 50/52 aircraft with either the F100-PW-229 or F110-GE-129 Increased Performance Engines (IPE), and APG-68v9 radars; * 24 Conformal Fuel Tanks (pairs); * 5 F100-PW-229 or F110-GE-129 IPE spare engines; * 4 APG-68v9 spare radar sets; * 30 AN/ALE-47 Countermeasures Dispensing Systems (CMDS) * 30 AN/ALR-56M Radar Warning Receivers (RWR) * 60 LAU-129/A Launchers; * 30 LAU-117 Launchers; * 6 Joint Helmet Mounted Cueing Systems; * 12 AN/AAQ-33 Sniper ATP, or AN/AAQ-28 LITENING advanced surveillance and targeting pods. Even the choice is surprising, as Northrop Grumman’s LITENING was jointly developed with RAFAEL of Israel; DID predicts a Sniper ATP purchase. * 5 Tactical Air Reconnaissance Systems (TARS) or DB-110 Reconnaissance Pods (RECCE); Goodrich’s DB-110 is already integrated into Poland’s F-16s, an eventually won here, too. * 4 AN/ARC-238 Single Channel Ground and Airborne Radio System (SINCGARS) radios with HAVE QUICK I/II; * 4 Link-16 Multifunctional Information Distribution System-Low Volume Terminals (MIDS-LVT); * 2 Link-16 Ground Stations; * 4 Global Positioning Systems (GPS) and Embedded GPS/ Inertial Navigation Systems (INS); * 4 AN/APX-113 Advanced Identification Friend or Foe (AIFF) Systems; * 28 AN/ALQ-211 Advanced Integrated Defensive Electronic Warfare Suites (AIDEWS); or 28 AN/ALQ-187 Advanced Self-Protection Integrated Suites (ASPIS II); or 28 AN/ALQ-178 Self Protection Electronic Warfare Suites (SPEWS) * 1 Unit Level Trainer * Associated support equipment, software development/integration, tanker support, ferry services, CAD/PAD, repair and return, modification kits, spares and repair parts, publications and technical documentation, personnel training and training equipment, U.S. Government and contractor technical, engineering, and logistics support services, and other related elements of logistics support.Hence Morocco’s official request for 24 T-6B Texan trainer aircraft with very secondary light attack capability. Associated equipment will include Global Positioning Systems (GPS) with CMA-4124 GNSSA card and Embedded GPS/Inertial Navigation System (INS) spares, ferry maintenance, tanker support, aircraft ferry services, site survey, unit level trainer, spare and repair parts, support and test equipment, publications and technical documentation, personnel training and training equipment, contractor technical and logistics personnel services, and other related elements of logistics support.The estimated cost is $200 million, and the principal contractors would be: * Hawker Beechcraft Corporation in Wichita, KS (aircraft) * Pratt & Whitney Corporation near Montreal, Canada and in Bridgeport, WVA (engines) * Martin Baker in Middlesex, United Kingdom (ejection seat) * Hartzel Propeller in Pique, OH (propeller) * CMC, with headquarters in Montreal, Canada and offices in Ottawa, Canada and Sugar Grove, IL (cockpit avionics) * L-3 Vertex in Madison, MSFinmeccanica subsidiary Alenia Aeronautica announces [PDF] that the Moroccan Defence Ministry has placed a EUR 130 million order for 4 C-27J Spartan tactical transport aircraft. Buy American jets to exact redress and serve as a warning to France not to do that again, while improving relations with another powerful ally. Couple that with a EUR 500 million order for a French FREMM frigate to shore up another need, and demonstrate to France that relationship still exists and honor has been satisfied.http://www.defenseindustrydaily.com/mor ... #more-4469
