Toekomst Europese defensie industie

[bergd]

Ten Cate boekt hogere winst in 2011
Ten Cate heeft in 2011 een 28 procent hogere nettowinst geboekt, vooral dankzij nieuwe orders van defensie, politie, vliegtuigfabrikanten en ruimtevaartpartijen. Dat maakte de producent van industriële textieltoepassingen woensdag bekend.


Er was ook sprake van omzetgroei in de kunstgrasmarkt, maar de resultaten vielen daar tegen, meldt het bedrijf uit Almelo. De nettowinst over 2011 bedroeg 58,7 miljoen euro, tegen 46,0 miljoen euro.

Het bedrijfsresultaat voor rente, belasting en amortisatie kwam in 2011 21 procent hoger uit op 102,5 miljoen euro, tegen 85 miljoen euro. De omzet nam zestien procent toe tot 1,14 miljard euro.

In de tweede helft van 2011 steeg de omzet slechts met 3 procent tot 546 miljoen euro en was de autonome omzet 2 procent lager door valuta-effecten. De EBITA daalde in het tweede halfjaar naar 46,4 miljoen euro van 46,8 miljoen euro een jaar eerder.

Volgens Ten Cate heeft de terugval in het tweede halfjaar mede te maken met de terugtrekking van de Amerikaanse troepen uit Irak, waar in de tweede helft van 2010 en de eerste helft van 2011 nog sprake was van een sterke inhaalvraag.

Ten Cate verwacht voor 2012 een bedrijfsresultaat dat minimaal op het niveau van 2011 zal liggen.

Het bedrijf stelt voor 2011 een keuzedividend van 0,95 euro per aandeel voor, tegen 0,75 euro over 2010.

Het aandeel Ten Cate sloot dinsdag op 24,61 euro.

Bron: ND
geplaatst: 29-02-2012 - 10.00
laatst gewijzigd:29-02-2012 - 10.00
auteur: Novum/Dow Jones

[jurrien visser (JuVi op Twitter)]

France, U.K. Bolster Weapon Efforts

Feb 29, 2012

By Robert Wall
London

At the highest level politically, it may be merely a marriage of necessity. But the commitments made by the U.K. and France to precision weapons and unmanned aircraft projects provide the most significant boost yet to the countries' defense industry since fiscal concerns gripped Paris and London.

In the weeks leading up to this month's summit, there was palpable animosity between French President Nicolas Sarkozy and British Prime Minister David Cameron, both because of differences on EU financial policy and, more recently, the U.K.'s clumsy efforts to undo India's selection of the Dassault Rafale as the preferred bidder in the Medium Multirole Combat Aircraft program. But for a few hours at least, the two leaders managed to set their differences aside and focus on the need to work more closely together at a time of shrinking military budgets in order to sustain key industrial skills and meet future combat needs.

The get-together set important markers for near-, mid-, and long-term cooperation in the areas of missiles and unmanned aerial systems (UAS), giving MBDA, BAE Systems, Dassault Aviation and other companies a sense of what business they can bank on through 2030. Although financial commitments were largely absent, the work being put in place represents a substantial investment in development and production activity across the ­Anglo-French defense supply chain.

Industry officials are taking heart from the policy pronouncements, particularly since they cover a range of activities that will lead to new production opportunities as well as to long-term research and technology work. "We are delighted with the announcement," says an industry representative involved in UAS projects.

In the missile domain, the two governments identified four main areas, largely involving the Anglo-French elements of European missile manufacturer MBDA.

The most ambitious effort is an agreement to work jointly on a cruise missile with land-attack and anti-ship capabilities. A low-level study contract had already been awarded in December. The weapon would likely serve as a replacement for the Scalp/Storm Shadow cruise missile and the Exocet anti-ship weapon around 2030.

MBDA researchers have been exploring options and last year unveiled the Perseus concept. While the eventual weapon will likely be different, some of the underlying technologies—including the continuous-detonation-wave engine to provide high speed over a long range—could serve as building blocks. Serious development work is not expected to begin until after 2020, though.

In the nearer term, the governments gave their long-anticipated commitment to the Future Anti-Ship Guided Weapon (Heavy)—FASGW(H) or ANL in French. The development contract was to have been finalized last year; but owing to delays in arranging the summit, contract-signing should now take place in the next few months.

Wind-tunnel trials and other component tests to prepare the 110-kg (242-lb.) FASGW(H) missile, which is to be used from the Panther, NH90 and Wildcat helicopters, have already been completed.

Bridging those timeframes is work to upgrade the Scalp/Storm Shadow cruise missile. Still under review is whether this will be merely a rebuild to deal with parts obsolescence, or a capability upgrade—including the addition of a two-way data link—in which the Royal Air Force has signaled interest.

The other mid-term project is the Future Anti-Surface Tactical Missile, with initial studies to be conducted this year. The weapon is likely a 50-kg anti-armor weapon equivalent to the French effort to replace its Milan missile with the MMP—the medium-range weapon program for which France awarded a risk-reduction contract late last year.

In the unmanned aircraft realm, the two sides also are looking to expand their partnership. France, for example, may join the Thales U.K. Watchkeeper tactical UAS program. After many delays, the U.K. hopes to field Watch­keeper—an upgraded version of the Elbit Hermes 450—this year. And France has a long-unmet requirement to replace its Sperwers.

The real centerpiece of the new Franco-British initiative is the combined BAE Systems/Dassault Aviation effort to provide the two countries with a high-end medium-altitude, long-endurance (MALE) UAS capable of operating in civilian airspace. An 18-month technology risk-assessment phase is to begin in April for industry to explore 12 areas where work may be needed and to help military users refine their initial requirements.

This phase will examine a range of issues from sensor performance to certification. If some requirements are seen as too risky to program execution, or as driving up costs excessively, they may be adjusted. Industry will undertake modeling and simulation activities as well as technology demonstrations.

The unmanned aircraft is likely to be turboprop-powered and feature electro-optical/infrared and radar payloads. A payload capability has not been set; instead, the prime contractor team has been urged to work with suppliers to identify the best way to meet the established mission requirements.

To help ease program management, a single program office has been set up within the U.K.'s Defense Equipment and Support organization, but the actual risk-reduction contract will be awarded through the French defense armaments agency (DGA). Industry will share the work equally, with Dassault and BAE Systems leading different activities.

At this point, the schedule is one of the biggest unknowns. The U.K. has a notional 2018 initial operational capability objective; France's is two years later. However, given the complexity of the program and the pace of activity early on, meeting the 2018 objective will be challenging, says an industry official.

For Europe, success or failure of the MALE UAS activity could have major ramifications. If things go well, the project could lead to closer cooperation in developing unmanned combat air systems. As part of the summit, Sarkozy and Cameron agreed to launch a Future Combat Air System Demonstration in 2013, with specifications to be established starting this year. BAE Systems is already working on the British Taranis demonstrator, with Dassault leading the European Neuron project; both are to fly this year. Dassault Aviation CEO Charles Edelstenne has long urged Europe to start focusing beyond the demonstration phase, and put in place longer-term development commitments.

Other equipment issues on the Anglo-French agenda include a reaffirmation to work together in logistics support for the Airbus Military A400M transport and cooperating to meet future satellite communications needs. France currently operates the Syracuse military satcom system, while the U.K. relies on Skynet 5.

Moreover, the spirit of cooperation extends beyond equipment matters. By 2016, the two counties want to establish a deployable joint-force headquarters, with the goal of having it capable of integrating representatives from allied militaries.

http://www.aviationweek.com/aw/generic/story_channel.jsp?channel=defense&id=news/awst/2012/02/27/AW_02_27_2012_p22-428836.xml&headline=France,%20U.K.%20Bolster%20Weapon%20Efforts&next=10

Een beetje jammer dat ik de lange termijn plannen nog niets heb kunnen vinden over een gezamelijke opvolger van EF en Rafale.

[Ace1]

"with the Eurofighter consortium offering some used aircraft to the Czech Republic at a discount of 30 to 40 per cent"

Laat dat nu net een Gripen gebuiker zijn... (geleased dan wel)

Het klopt dat de Tsjechen de Gripen leasen, maar dat is maar een contract voor 10 jaar, Saab praat wel over een verlening van het contract maar krijgt nu concurentie van het Eurofighter consortium

[jurrien visser (JuVi op Twitter)]

Top secret papers about multi-million pound British deal to develop drones with France are stolen in Paris train station

Two 'spies' took a briefcase from an executive working for French firm Dassault Aviation
He was at the Gare du Nord waiting to catch a Eurostar train to London when theft happened earlier this month
By Peter Allen

Last updated at 6:58 PM on 22nd February 2012

Top secret documents concerning Britain's multi-million pound deal to develop state-of-the-art drones have been stolen in Paris, it emerged tonight.
In what had all the hallmarks of a covert operation by spies, two men are believed to have stolen a briefcase at the Gare du Nord station in Paris.
A high-level executive working for French company Dassault Aviation was on his way to London on the Eurostar train on February 2 when the theft took place.
Security leak: Top secret documents about Britain's multi-million pound deal to develop state-of-the-art drones have been stolen in the Gare du Nord train station in Paris (pictured)

The unnamed man briefly left his case unattended when his female colleague was 'hassled' by a stranger, a Paris Judicial Police source said.
Documents in the case were marked 'Defence - Confidential' and contained details of the Franco-British drone project, a legal source close to the case told Le Parisien newspaper.


More...The Cameron effect? Sarkozy bounces back into eight-point lead after endorsement of British PM
Cameron under fire for backing Sarkozy: Premier accused of interfering in French elections

The source said that the theft happened at around 5pm, when the station was packed with cross-Channel travellers.
When the Dassault executive returned to a self-service ticket machine after helping his colleague 'his briefcase had disappeared'.
The source said: 'His attention had been purposefully diverted. It was not a random theft.
We have to determine whether the thieves were targeting confidential documents on the drone project or other valuables in the briefcase.'
Nicolas Sarkozy speaks with Dassault Aviation boss Charles Edelstenne as he sits in the cockpit of a French Dassault-made Rafale jet fighter in 2007. A Dassault executive was carrying the documents in a briefcase when they were stolen

The person who hassled the woman disappeared almost immediately, and has not been seen since. He is described as being in his 30s. Whoever took the briefcase was not seen at all.
While the police insisted that a highly-sophisticated operation by a spy agency could not be ruled out, Dassault said it was 'probably a random theft'.
The company tonight confirmed that a briefcase belonging to an employee was taken, but insisted that it did not contain any 'sensitive documents'.
The Dassault spokesman added: 'It was basically a petty theft, like so many others at the station', adding that the incident was captured on security cameras.
Pact: Mr Sarkozy and David Cameron last week attended a bilateral defence agreement in which they discussed the research and development project involving Dassault and BAE Systems (file picture)
Last Friday, David Cameron arrived in Paris to attend a bilateral defence agreement in which he discussed the research and development project involving Dassault and BAE Systems with President Nicolas Sarkozy.
In what was described as a 'highly-sensitive tie-up' by diplomatic sources, it was revealed that the companies would be working on a medium-altitude long-endurance drone for reconnaissance.
It would be available for flights from 2020, while a combat version complete with weapons would be ready by 2030, said a French defence ministry spokesman.
France and Britain's plan to develop a new generation of fighter drones is their biggest collaboration since they agreed to closer military cooperation last year.

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2104980/Top-secret-papers-multi-million-pound-British-deal-develop-drones-France-stolen-Paris-train-station.html#ixzz1nDJDrQh9

[ARM-WAP]

"with the Eurofighter consortium offering some used aircraft to the Czech Republic at a discount of 30 to 40 per cent"

Laat dat nu net een Gripen gebuiker zijn... (geleased dan wel)

[jurrien visser (JuVi op Twitter)]

IDSA COMMENT

Time to Act on the Defence Industry Front

Ramesh Phadke

November 29, 2011

If India is really serious about reducing its dependence on foreign sources for its defence needs, this is the time to act.The MMRCA selection process is nearing its end. The tenders were scheduled to be opened early this month. The lowest bid would then be compared to the notional figure that the Government of India (GoI) would have calculated on the basis of prevailing prices of the same or similar equipment. Problems could arise if the difference between the two is large and in that case the whole process could well be delayed further.

The MMRCA contract is extremely important because the offset clause obliges the vendor to spend up to 50 per cent of the contract value in India, and that is huge. But to derive the maximum benefit from these the Indian industry must be in a position to absorb such major technology infusion. This is unlikely to fructify if the GoI focuses only on Defence PSUs like HAL and ignores the numerous small and large players in the private sector.

The current climate is especially propitious because many aviation and other defence industry majors in Europe and America are facing a bleak future. The fears of a second economic meltdown are widespread and the Eurozone crisis is showing no signs of a lasting solution. Here then is the real opportunity to strike deals that would finally help the indigenisation of India's defence industry.

The US government is likely to make deep cuts to its defence budget. The F-22 programme and now the F-35 programme are afflicted not only by their own development problems (the first with the on-board oxygen generation system that resulted in its grounding for nearly five months and the second with far too many serious issues to be discussed here) but also budgetary cuts. The US offer of the F-35 to India is also due to the present economic difficulties and it is likely that the earlier restrictions on transfer of technology would be greatly loosened.

Following the Strategic Defence and Security Review (SDSR) of October 2010, Britain announced deep cuts in its defence spending even though these were termed as inadequate by the Comprehensive Spending Review (CSR) that came a few months later. The UK plans to ultimately cut its defence spending by a whopping 10 per cent over the next decade with some two billion pounds already saved (cut?) this year.1 The process began in December 2010 with the early phasing out of the 63-strong Harrier GR9 jump-jet fleet2 — the pride of the Royal Navy. (Recent reports, however, indicate that all of these are slated to be purchased by the US Navy at discounted prices). The Nimrod MRA 4 fleet which had played a crucial role of maritime surveillance and airborne SIGINT duties for over forty years was the next to see retirement. Its replacement, the US KC-135 Rivet Joint, has been put off until 2015. The Royal Navy also had to decommission an aircraft carrier, the HMS Arc Royal. HMS Illustrious, the other carrier, is also due to be decommissioned in 2014.

Estimated redundancies or employment losses are likely to reach 25,000 civilian/industry and 17,000 military.3 Considering that each of them is a specialist and skilled worker in his/her own way it can have a very debilitating effect on the British industry. The Royal Air Force (RAF) is also allowed a fleet of only 107 Eurofighter Typhoons4 instead of a much higher figure that was sanctioned earlier. Germany has announced plans to cut its Bundeswehr or Federal Defence Forces strength from 220,000 to 185,000.5

Other partner countries namely, Spain, Italy and Germany are in a similar situation, with the Eurofighter consortium offering some used aircraft to the Czech Republic at a discount of 30 to 40 per cent.6 This is unprecedented. These countries are also not keen to buy the numbers that they had earlier committed for and are hoping that like Saudi Arabia they can find other customers to help keep their industry running. The Eurofighter is manufactured by a consortium of four countries, Spain, Italy, the UK and Germany, and each builds its share of components for the Typhoon. The absence of orders or a delayed delivery schedule can seriously affect all these companies.

According to Richard Paniguian, the head of the UK Trade and Investment Defence & Security Organisation (UKTI DSO), which looks after its sales and exports markets, "building partnerships with indigenous companies in target markets is the future of British defence exporters and will supersede the traditional business model of direct sales."7 Another official has clearly identified the export of defence equipment to India, Saudi Arabia and other countries as the main focus area for the UK in these difficult times. "Partnerships rather than pure exports are the way to go," he says. The Eurofighter Typhoon is likely to play a major role in this scheme.

India is thus in an enviable position8 with her economy doing well enough to continue to commit a sizeable amount for defence purchases. Since India is unlikely to raise the FDI limit in defence industry it is possible that investments might not be so easily forthcoming in the defence sector but India should find other alternatives.

It is perhaps time for the Indian majors like Tata, L&T and Mahindra Defence and indeed the Indian Government/DPSUs to invest in American and European defence companies. General Atomics, the manufacturer of the RQ-1 Predator and RQ-9 Reaper, Honeywell, EADS, BAe and many such names come to mind. These countries might welcome these relatively small investments. Such forays will open vital contacts with these industries and facilitate transfer of technology and joint ventures.

We must also focus on Indian companies. The LCA programme has spawned some 300 small and medium Indian companies that made a signal contribution to the programme. Many of these, according to one very knowledgeable source, were managed by single individuals or by very small groups of people who are now getting on in years and have no assurance that their businesses will survive in the long term. Indian private majors could give these small players the necessary assistance or buy them outright. That is, however, possible only if the government encourages the private player to invest in these projects. Big corporates can easily do that with a little persuasion by the government.

Remember that China has been under a NATO arms sales ban since 1989 and many European countries, especially France, are strongly advocating that it be lifted. If the European economy shows signs of a further slow-down China would be in a better position to exploit the emerging opportunities. Also recall that in the early 1990s the Chinese leadership immediately grabbed the opportunity to get a cash-strapped Russia into parting with the Su-27 and other technologies that were then considered out of reach of any country. China had also managed to get some 400-500 jobless Russian engineers to work in China on the numerous projects that were then starting.

The Indian Government must be prepared to invest a sizeable sum, say USD 500 million each, in four or five of these companies whose products India needs; e.g., UAV/UCAV, Aero-engines, AESA Radars, MANPADS like the Stinger, multipurpose short range missiles like the Griffin and Javelin, and many other weapon systems including PGMs that can in due course of time be produced in India.

India has already spent large amounts of foreign exchange on big ticket items like the C-17, Hercules C-130J, PC-22 trainers, Mirage-2000 upgrade and a variety of helicopters and Surface to Air Missiles (SAM). It is time to cast the net wide and take some bold steps to kick-start the indigenisation process and also obtain what the Indian military needs.

It is a truism that for any country to become an autonomous power centre, it must, among other things, possess a strong strategic defence industrial base. This is one area where India should closely follow Chinese practices. Our leaders have been repeatedly stating that India's dependence on foreign sources for 70 per cent of its defence needs is both 'shameful and dangerous' and yet we have made little progress on the ground. As a result vital opportunities are quickly slipping by.

http://www.idsa.in/idsacomments/TimetoActontheDefenceIndustryFront_rphadke_291111

"with the Eurofighter consortium offering some used aircraft to the Czech Republic at a discount of 30 to 40 per cent"

Met dit soort percentages zou je toch wat Hollandse handelsgeest verwachten. Ik vraag me af of dit onderwerp niet ter sprake is gekomen tijdens de gesprekken de Hans Hillen in Duitsland heeft gehad over een verder gaande samenwerking.

[jurrien visser (JuVi op Twitter)]

Ik ben benieuwd of DMO ook een vinger in de pap heeft, of dat dit een puur comerieel ontwerp is?

Puur comerieel  ..... commercieel.

dan hoop ik op commercieel succes, dat is goed voor de economie en wie weet ziet de KM er tzt ook brood in.

[Lex]

Ik ben benieuwd of DMO ook een vinger in de pap heeft, of dat dit een puur comerieel ontwerp is?

Puur comerieel  ..... commercieel.

[jurrien visser (JuVi op Twitter)]

Scheepswerf Damen is bezig met het ontwerp van een nieuwe ASV Landing craft
ZIE PAGINA 20, Warship tech Mag

http://content.yudu.com/A1ur7k/WTOCT11/resources/index.htm?referrerUrl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.rina.org.uk%2Fwt.html

Ziet er veel belovend uit.

Als het budget het toelaat en het ontwerp voldoet aan de wensen en eisen van de KM, misschien ooit te bewonderen binnen de KM.

Ik ben benieuwd of DMO ook een vinger in de pap heeft, of dat dit een puur commerieel ontwerp is?

[andré herc]

Scheepswerf Damen is bezig met het ontwerp van een nieuwe ASV Landing craft
ZIE PAGINA 20, Warship tech Mag

http://content.yudu.com/A1ur7k/WTOCT11/resources/index.htm?referrerUrl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.rina.org.uk%2Fwt.html

[jurrien visser (JuVi op Twitter)]

28 november 2011

Thales Nederland en TNO richten het Dutch Radar Centre of Expertise (D-RACE) op

Met deze strategische samenwerking kan innovatie in een nog hogere versnelling geschakeld worden. Klanten profiteren van een efficiëntere en snellere kennisopbouw en de versnelde ontwikkeling van innovatieve concepten voor radars en geïntegreerde sensor-suites. De overeenkomst is op 25 november door beide directies ondertekend.

Met D-RACE bundelen het grootste onderzoeksinstituut van Nederland en de wereld marktleider op het gebied van maritieme radars voor defensie hun kwaliteiten. Het initiatief sluit naadloos aan bij het nieuwe topsectorenbeleid van het Ministerie van Economische Zaken, Landbouw en Innovatie om publiek-private constructies een vast onderdeel te laten vormen van de Nederlandse kennisinfrastructuur.

Belang radars en geïntegreerde sensor suites
CEO Gerben Edelijn van Thales Nederland: "Elektronische sensoren zoals radars zijn van essentieel belang voor onze veiligheid en kwaliteit van leven bijvoorbeeld bij veiligheidstoepassingen zoals defensie, kust- en havenbewaking, anti-piraterij missies calamiteitenbestrijding. Ook hebben radars een cruciale rol in het voorspellen van (maatschappij ontwrichtend) weer, het vaststellen van gezondheid van mensen en het controleren en begeleiden van verkeer en vervoer over land en water en door de lucht. Daarom zijn technologieën hiervoor zijn van groot belang om de veiligheid en kwaliteit van ons leven te waarborgen."

Meer toegevoegde waarde

Thales en TNO werken al jarenlang succesvol samen om, veelal met de eindgebruiker in een driehoekconstructie, een unieke kennispositie op te bouwen. Met D-RACE zal de impact van deze samenwerking alleen maar toenemen. "Wij geloven dat klanten die kiezen voor de producten en expertise van Thales Nederland door D-Race kunnen profiteren van nog efficiëntere productontwikkeling en innovatievere oplossingen. Niet alleen in Nederland, maar ook ver daar buiten, want Thales is actief in 50 landen. Bovendien kan D-RACE blijvend nieuwe impulsen geven, zodat Thales Nederland en haar vele toeleveranciers de concurrentiepositie kunnen verbeteren en verder kunnen groeien, op de nationale en op internationale markten", aldus Gerben Edelijn van Thales Nederland.

Behoud veiligheid en kwaliteit van leven

TNO ziet het behoud van veiligheid en kwaliteit van leven als een van de belangrijke uitdagingen voor de komende jaren. Henk Geveke van TNO: "Om deze uitdaging als Nederland met succes te kunnen aangaan, ontwikkelt TNO kennis die impact heeft op de Nederlandse samenleving en industrie zodat beiden een onderscheidende toppositie kunnen innemen in de wereldeconomie. We zijn verheugd dat we met D-Race de relatie met Thales Nederland verder kunnen uitbreiden en formaliseren.
Tijdens onze jarenlange samenwerking hebben we steeds bewezen tijdig nieuwe technologieën en concepten te introduceren die geleid hebben tot unieke en succesvolle industriële radarproducten die onze Koninklijke Marine een technologische en operationele voorsprong geven. Door onze samenwerking met Thales Nederland te verdiepen kan ook in de toekomst de ontwikkeling van nieuwe concepten nog beter en sneller verlopen. Deze kennis komt ook aan andere sectoren van defensie ten goede zoals Life-sciences, Industriële Innovatie, Space en Automotive.

http://www.tno.nl/content.cfm?context=overtno&content=nieuwsbericht&laag1=37&laag2=2&item_id=2011-11-28%2012:07:19.0

[jurrien visser (JuVi op Twitter)]

MEHR WAFFEN, MEHR FREUDE - Deutschland kauft sich bei EADS ein

Voor de Duitstaligen onder ons, zie link:

http://www.readers-edition.de/2011/11/11/mehr-waffen-mehr-freude-deutschland-kauft-sich-bei-eads-ein/

[Lex]

Ah, Israel appeasement. Bah!

Appeasement = verzoeningspolitiek. Waar slaat deze opmerking op?

[IPA NG]

Ah, Israel appeasement. Bah!

[jurrien visser (JuVi op Twitter)]

Onderhoud F-16 naar Nederland
maandag 7 november 2011 19:00

Den Haag - De firma Elbit Systems of America heeft in ons land een werkplaats voor onderhoud aan F-16 onderdelen geopend.

Foto: DefensieDe vestiging zit voorlopig op het terrein van het Logistiek Centrum Woensdrecht (LCW) locatie Rhenen en verhuist eind 2012 naar de Vliegbasis Woensdrecht.

Elbit verwacht op korte termijn meerdere innovatieve werkzaamheden van de VS naar hun faciliteit op het LCW te verplaatsen. Voor de Koninklijke Luchtmacht levert de verplaatsing van deze werkzaamheden een verlaging van de transportkosten en omlooptijden op, waardoor de beschikbaarheid van de gevechtsvliegtuigen omhoog gaat.
Regional support center

Met Elbit verhuist een tweede bedrijf naar het terrein van het LCW. Hiermee geeft Defensie invulling aan het streven van het LCW om te komen tot een regional support center voor onderhoud, reparatie en modificatie en aan het Maintenance Valley initiatief om luchtvaartgerelateerde bedrijven in de regio aan te trekken.

Elbit heeft verder de intentie om op korte termijn tegen betaling gebruik te gaan maken van speciale testapparatuur van het LCW, waardoor ze avionica onderdelen van nagenoeg ieder type F-16 voor partijen in en buiten Europa kunnen repareren.

http://www.blikopnieuws.nl/bericht/136723/Onderhoud_F-16_naar_Nederland.html