이스라엘 IAI, EADS 와 A320 AEW&C 개발 계획 협의...

 

유럽 에어버스사의 A320 기종에 이스라엘 IAI (Israel Aerospace Industries) 사가 개발한 L-band 기반 Phalcon 시스템을 장착한

A320 AEW&C 개발에 대한 협의를 IAI 사와 Airbus, 양사가 진행할 것이라는 Flight International 의 기사입니다.

 

이미 IAI 사의 Phalcon AEW&C 시스템은 Boeing B707, Ilyushin IL-76 그리고 Gulfstream G550 에 장착되어 이스라엘, 칠레, 인도,

싱가포르 등에 판매된 바 있습니다.

 

IAI 사의 이러한 실적과 Airbus 사의 A320 기종 생산능력을 결합시킨다면 개발에 소요되는 기간은 3~4년이면 충분하며, 향후 5년내

약 100억불 규모로 예측되는 글로벌 공중조기경보기 시장의 30~40% 는 충분히 장악할 수 있을 것으로 확신한다 합니다.

 

노후화가 심각한 보잉 707 AWACS 기의 후속으로 개발된 E-767 AEW&C 기가 일본의 4대 도입을 끝으로 단종된 상태에서 유일한

차기 공중조기경보기라 할 수 있는 보잉 737 Wedgetail 역시 여전히 기술적 문제를 해결하지 못하고 있는 현 시점에서, IAI 사의 A320

을 기반으로 하는 AEW&C 의 개발이 이루어진다면, Wedgetail 의 강력한 경쟁자가 될 것으로 예측됩니다.

 

A320 관련 사진들과 G550 AEW&C 사진을 첨부합니다.

 

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  © Airbus

 

IAI, EADS discuss adapting A320 for airborne early warning

Flight International, 30/11/09

By Stephen Trimble

 

Israel Aerospace Industries and EADS are in advanced discussions on teaming up to offer an airborne early warning system installed on a member of the Airbus A320 family, an IAI official says.

 

The discussions come after a series of overtures by IAI to adapt Elta Systems' conformal AEW technology to the A320 family.

 

EADS's Military Aircraft division previously rejected the concept, says Baruch Reshef, deputy director of Elta's group marketing and sales division. But its attitude has recently changed. "They are in favour of co-operation if we can find solutions that fit their platforms," he says.

 

IAI and EADS officials see a huge market opportunity for AEW technology, Reshef says, amounting to more than $10 billion over the next five years. IAI expects that an A320-based system could capture 30-40% of the market share, he says.

 

The first such A320 AEW platform could be available for service entry within three to four years of a contract award, Reshef says. The installation process "would be quite short in comparison to other programmes", he adds.

 

If both sides agree, IAI would help expand Airbus's portfolio of military offerings, which include the A330-based multirole tanker transport, A400M airlifter and a previous offer to provide adapted A320s for NATO's alliance ground surveillance programme - a capability which has subsequently been narrowed to include only unmanned aircraft. IAI would also gain a new platform for its conformal AEW technology, already installed on the Gulfstream G550 business jet for Israel and Singapore.

 

EADS declined to comment on the report, following a request from Flight International.

 

An A320-based system would join other Western market offerings in the airborne early warning and control segment, which include the Boeing 737, Northrop Grumman E-2D Advanced Hawkeye and Saab Microwave Systems' Erieye radar, which has so far been integrated with the Embraer ERJ-145 regional jet and Saab 340 and Saab 2000 turboprops.

 

IAI's Phalcon series of AEW radars began with the EL/M-2075 L-band electronically scanned array, first installed on the Boeing 707 for Israel and Chile. India has also acquired the radar for installation on the Ilyushin Il-76 transport.

 

 

  © Airbus

 

 

  © Airbus

 

  G550 Eitam AEW&C