Help
BAE looks again at military 146 airlifter sales
September 9th, 2009 | DSEI 2009 | Posted by Andrew Chuter
Twenty years or more after it first tried to sell the BAe 146 regional jet as a military airlifter BAE Systems is attempting to revive the idea.
The original scheme floundered without achieving a sale.This time round the company may have a better chance of success with a second hand aircraft converted to a freighter configuration available for as little as $5 million and a passenger aircraft even cheaper at half that figure.
Those are the sort of price tags which could tempt even cash starved defense ministries to take a look at the second-hand aircraft being offered by BAE’s Asset Management arm, says sales director Andy Whelan.
The first time BAE attempted to sell new aircraft as military airlifter’s the asking price was between $20 million and $25 million.
Now though Whelan reckons the combination of budget pressures, increasingly stretched tactical transport assets, delays in new aircraft deliveries and aging aircraft fleets may see the cut-price 146M get a second chance.
“It’s the right time, the right price and it’s available now”, said Whelan talking to reporters at DSEi2009
BAE see the 146 replacing An-32s,Fokker F27’s, Boeing 727 and other old aircraft now running out of life. Another possibility is air force’s using the aircraft to complement overworked tactical airlift like the C-130 and C-160.
The 146 is hardly a spring chicken itself but Whelan says many of the aircraft available for sale have used less than half their flying hours.
The company is even touting the aircraft in either the freighter or passenger roles to fill part of the capability gap created by delays to the troubled European A400M program.
Industry sources say informal soundings have already been taken about the aircrafts use at the British MoD.
Whelan, though, denied there had been any approaches made yet to the Royal Air Force or other A400M partner nations.
The four engine jet in its 146QT freighter configuration features a large freight door, has a 11-12 tonne payload and a rough field capability.
In a brochure released at DSEi 2009 BAE says the 146-300QT version of over 1600 nautical miles. An extended range fit could take the range out to over 2200 nautical miles with a 12 tone payload.
Whelan said BAE Regional Aircraft Asset Management has 146QT and 146QC (quick change) aircraft available now and additional aircraft can be converted to order. The conversion takes up to seven months.