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Titel: Canadian FWSAR competition
Bericht door: Ace1 op 16/02/2016 | 11:10 uur
IS THE FWSAR SEARCH NEARLY OVER?

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CC-115 Buffalo

If an individual ever had doubts about just how bewildering Canada's military procurement methods are, look no further than the efforts to replace its fixed-wing search and rescue (FWSAR) fleet. 

Announced in 2004, the FWSAR replacement project has seen countless delays.  Even more frustrating is that none of these delays are caused by technical issues.  Instead, the FWSAR has been a victim of politics and bureaucracy gumming up what should have been a straight-forward project.

The need is there to replace Canada's aging CC-115 Buffalo.  The 60s era airframe has not been built since 1986.  Parts are increasingly difficult to procure and maintenance is a challenge. 

Cost is not an issue.  Compared to the $9 billion CF-18 replacement and the $38 billion National Shipbuilding Procurement Strategy (NSPS), the $3.1 billion (service contract included) FWSAR project is unlikely to raise any objections. 

Politically, moving forward with the FWSAR would seem like a non-issue.  Canadian recognize the need for an effective search-and-rescue force, what with our vast coastlines and northern wilderness. 

Despite the need, the acceptable cost, and political will to find a new FWSAR, the project has dragged on for over a decade.  So why the hold-up?

Bureaucracy and politics.

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CC-130H

Things may have gone easier if the DND was merely replacing the CC-115 Buffalo.  Instead the FWSAR project is tasked with replacing TWO different aircraft.  On the east coast, the RCAF conducts FWSAR operations using the CC-130H Hercules.  These Hercs are also tasked with strategic transport when needed. 

Needless to say, the Buff and the Herc have different capabilities.  The Buffalo is an exemplary STOL aircraft, and heralded for its ability to fly in amongst the Rocky Mountains.  The Hercules is much larger, offers a pressurized cabin, has a farther range, and flies much faster.  While it may not be able to put the "Mark One Eyeball" as close to the ground as a Buffalo, this deficiency can easily be made up for using modern imaging devices, like FLIR and ground mapping radar.

If the DND merely ordered a few short CC-130Js for the FWSAR task when it ordered its current batch of CC-130J "Super Hercs", it would have likely raised few eyebrows.  After all, we would simply be upgrading our current fleet of FWSAR Hercs as well as replacing the CC-115 Buffalo.

Instead, the newly elected Conservative government decided to sole-source the Alenia C-27J Spartan.

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C-27J Spartan

The reasoning is sound.  The C-27J utilizes the same Rolls-Royce AE2100 turboprop engines as the C-130J, as well as other systems.  The C-27J is often referred to as the "Baby Herc", and for good reason.

The Defence Minister at the time, Peter MacKay, was roundly criticized for the decision to sole-source the C-27J.  Even if the Spartan was an acceptable choice, that was no excuse to disqualify competing bids.  Other aircraft, such as the EADS-CASA (now Airbus Military) C-295, Lockheed Martin C-130J, and even the Bombardier Q400 and Boing V-22 Osprey were worth consideration at least.  Not only that, but sole-sourcing the Italian built C-27J offered little economic benefit to the Canadian aerospace industry.

When the DND went back to the drawing board, it came back with a Statement of Operational Requirements (SOR).  CASA-EADS then accused the DND of writing the SOR with the C-27J specifically in mind.  One of the rumored "requirements" was the ability to transport a spare propellor, a dubious need for a aircraft focused on search-and-rescue. 

Back to the drawing board again.

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Airbus Military C-295

The good news in all this is that the most recent statement of requirements allow some flexibility in the competitors' bids.  Manufacturers have been given the option to suggest how many aircraft and where those aircraft should be based.  This extra flexibility allows for the slower (but cheaper) C-295 to meet the requirements by having more aircraft based at more airbases. 

This new-found flexibility may prove to be a boon if it carries over to other procurements.  The CF-18 replacement project, for example, has been criticized for attempting to replace Canada's current fleet of 79 Hornets with only 65 fighters.  Any manufacturer able to deliver more airframes for the same cost should certainly be given extra consideration.

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Embraer KC-390

Another silver lining to the cloud surrounding Canada's FWSAR replacement is the inclusion of a contender that did not even exist when the project was first launched. 

Brazilian Embraer has proposed its new KC-390 to compete with the C-27J and C-295.  A definite outlier in the program, the KC-390 uses turbofans instead of turboprops.  It also happens to the largest entry, much larger than the C-295 and C-27J.  The KC-390 is even bigger than the (standard fuselage) C-130. 

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It's big.

That extra size gives the KC-390 some advantages.  It flies faster, further, and higher than the others while offering a substantially higher payload (over double!).  The KC-390 has also been designed with the aerial tanker role in mind, capable of refueling fast fighters or slow helicopters.

All that extra size and versatility may be overkill for the FWSAR bid, as the RCAF already has sufficient transports and tankers (although the CC-150 Polaris is getting on in years...).

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V-22 Osprey

The FWSAR project is interesting not just for who bid, but for who did not.

The Bell-Boeing V-22 Osprey was briefly considered, but was ultimately a no-show.  With its troubled development is now mostly behind it, Bell-Boeing are now after sales outside the USA.  Unfortunately, the Osprey is still quite pricy.  It is also slower and has less range than the others. 

The Bombardier Q400 (aka the Dash 8) was proposed, but lacks the rear loading ramp required by the RCAF.  Modifying the Q400 with a ramp would likely be far too risky an undertaking. 

Viking Air Limited proposed "new build" Buffalos with updated engines and avionics.  Known as the DHC-5NG.  Like the Q400, this would have been an attractive option for economic benefits, but entails a fair amount of risk and Canada would once again be stuck with an "orphan" aircraft with no international support (i.e. CH-148 Cyclone). 

The biggest news was Lockheed Martin declining to bid on Canada's FWSAR.

Canada has long been a user of the C-130, both for transport and search-and-rescue.  As stated before, upgrading from the C-130H to the C-130J would have been a painless endeavor.  If Lockheed Martin did decide to bid, it would have a huge advantage of pre-existing infrastructure (simulators, training, supply lines, etc).

So why skip out?

Some say that Lockheed Martin stepped out of the FWSAR bid as "punishment" for Canada abandoning the F-35 program.  This is highly suspect, as Canada has yet to officially back out.  Not only that, but Lockheed Martin seemed ambivalent back in May of 2015, before the current Liberal government was elected or even before they made the campaign promise to cancel the JSF.  Not only that, but "punishing" a potential client for not buying your product would be a disastrous business decision.  Doing so would scare off a lot of potential buyers in the future. 

A more likely explanation is that Lockheed Martin simply did not consider Canada's FWSAR worth the effort.

Even with all the Herc's advantages, it is still an expensive aircraft.  At about $100 million per unit cost and a (USAF) $14,000 cost per flight hour, the Herc may not have been economically viable.  The fact that Lockheed Martin's waning interest occurred roughly at the same time as Embraer entered the scene seems to support this, as the KC-390 was designed specifically to undercut the C-130's price. 

Given the demand for C-130Js worldwide, one wonders if Lockheed Martin could have even fulfilled an order in a timely fashion

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Big shoes to fill.

Of the remaining three, which aircraft is best suited to fill the FWSAR role?

The Buff and the Herc are two extremely capable aircraft, and finding an aircraft to replace both is daunting to say the least.  All three competitors offer distinct advantages over the others.

C-27 SPARTAN

Still the odds on favorite.
Commonality with the Super Herc.
Better range and speed than the C-295
Seemingly hits the "sweet spot" of size and capabilities.
C-295

Cheapest of the three.
May be stationed in more bases with higher numbers.
Lightest of the three.
KC-390

Most versatile.
Fastest, longest range, heaviest payload.
May be considered "overkill".
Early in development with plenty of questions regarding price and reliability.

Obviously, the dark horse here is the Embraer KC-390.  No details have been released regarding its bid, but considering this could be seen as a major "conquest" sale against the C-130, expect it to be aggressive. 

This will likely be the first military purchase of the new Liberal government and certainly "one to watch".  Given Canada's current financial straits combined with our military's desperate need for new equipment, the FWSAR selection is likely to set the tone for much bigger projects on the horizon.

http://airsoc.com/articles/view/id/56a7e191313944c0038b4569/is-the-fwsar-search-nearly-over?utm_campaign=pagename-articles.browse&utm_medium=internal&utm_source=related-article
Titel: Re:Canadian FWSAR competition
Bericht door: Ace1 op 16/02/2016 | 11:13 uur
Lockheed C-130J not entered in Canadian FWSAR competition

Canada's decade-long quest to purchase a new fixed-wing search and rescue (FWSAR) aircraft has come down to three contenders, the Embraer KC-390, Alenia Aermacchi C-27J and Airbus Defence & Space C-295W.

Proposals were due in mid-January, and Alenia and Airbus have both confirmed their entry to Flightglobal. The jet-powered latecomer, the KC-390, has also reportedly been submitted by Embraer.

The winglet-enabled C259W and hardy C-27J have long been considered top candidates to replace the Royal Canadian Air Force's six de Havilland CC-115 Buffalos and 13 Lockheed Martin CC-130Hs, which currently perform the mission. Embraer's in-development military transport was announced as a candidate late last year, promising to shake things up.

Public Works and Government Services Canada (PWGSC) confirms that just three proposals were received, which means the Bell-Boeing V-22 and Viking Air's concept for a new-build DHC-5 Buffalo did not make surprise returns. Lockheed tells Flightglobal it decided not to submit the C-130J – an odd twist in this procurement saga.

Royal Canadian Air Force

The Super Hercules had long been considered a prime contender, since US Air Force and Coast Guard HC-130Js have been performing search-and-rescue missions for some years, and Lockheed had participated in FWSAR as a "potential bidder".

"After following an extensive and thorough analysis of the request for proposal's requirements, we decided to not submit a formal response to Canada's FWSAR RFP," a company spokeswoman said on 18 January. "We remain fully committed to supporting the RCAF and its CC-130J fleet as it continues to perform the tactical transport role in Canada for decades to come."

The decision not to bid comes as the new government in Canada prepares to withdraw from the Lockheed F-35 programme and launch a competition. The previous government had wanted 65 Lightning IIs to replace the outdated Boeing CF-18 Hornets.

According to the PWGSC, the evaluation process including aircraft testing will take "about six months" and a contract award is expected in "late 2016 or early 2017".

That aircraft testing might be tricky for Embraer, since the KC-390 first flew in February 2015 and the initial examples are devoted to flight certification. Brazil expects to begin operating the type in 2018.

Now valued at $3.1 billion, the FWSAR programme is one of Canada's longest running aircraft acquisition debacles. Canada first announced its requirement for a new fixed-wing SAR platform in 2002, but the project has been delayed, cancelled and revived many times over.

The government had said it would consider mixed-fleet proposals and did not specify a certain number of aircraft.

http://airsoc.com/articles/view/id/569d491731394415678b4567/lockheed-c-130j-not-entered-in-canadian-fwsar-competition?utm_campaign=pagename-articles.view&utm_medium=internal&utm_source=related-article
Titel: Re:Canadian FWSAR competition
Bericht door: ARM-WAP op 16/02/2016 | 15:50 uur
Lijkt erop also Lockheed de Canadezen een neus wil zetten door geen Super Herc aan te bieden (omdat ze geen F-35 zullen aanschaffen).

Of Lockheed komt tot de conclusie dat ze geen kans maken omdat hun toestel groter, viermotorig is en (hoogstwaarschijnlijk?) te duur zal uitvallen.
Titel: Re:Canadian FWSAR competition
Bericht door: Ace1 op 16/02/2016 | 16:34 uur
Citaat van: ARM-WAP op 16/02/2016 | 15:50 uur
Lijkt erop also Lockheed de Canadezen een neus wil zetten door geen Super Herc aan te bieden (omdat ze geen F-35 zullen aanschaffen).

Of Lockheed komt tot de conclusie dat ze geen kans maken omdat hun toestel groter, viermotorig is en (hoogstwaarschijnlijk?) te duur zal uitvallen.

De Canadezen hebben nu ook de C-130H Hercules en de C-130J Hercules in gebruik geen idee hoe gebruikskosten tussen een C-130H Hercules en een C-130J Hercules zijn?


http://www.rcaf-arc.forces.gc.ca/en/aircraft-current/cc-130.page

http://www.rcaf-arc.forces.gc.ca/en/aircraft-current/cc-130j.page
Titel: Re:Canadian FWSAR competition
Bericht door: Harald op 16/02/2016 | 17:03 uur
Citaat van: ARM-WAP op 16/02/2016 | 15:50 uur
Lijkt erop also Lockheed de Canadezen een neus wil zetten door geen Super Herc aan te bieden (omdat ze geen F-35 zullen aanschaffen).

Of Lockheed komt tot de conclusie dat ze geen kans maken omdat hun toestel groter, viermotorig is en (hoogstwaarschijnlijk?) te duur zal uitvallen.

Maar ...... Canada gebruik nu ook de Hercs, als zij voor de 130J zouden gaan zou het kwa kennis, opleidingen en onderhoud een veel makkelijkere overgang zijn.
Maar LM heeft de HC-130J niet aangeboden, dus... 
Daarom wordt nu (denk ik) ook de 27J  (baby Herc) al als favoriet benoemd. Cockpit en motoren gelijk aan C-130J

Kunnen ze samen werken met de US Coast Guard, al hoewel ze daar nog steeds bezig zijn met de integratie van de systemen.
http://www.defensemedianetwork.com/stories/integrating-the-spartan/

De US Coast Guard vliegt ook met de C-235, bij de US bekend als de HC-144A Ocean Sentry. Daar had LM nog wel een aandeel in voor levering/aanbrengen van systemen.

On Watch from Above
http://www.lockheedmartin.com/us/mst/features/121008-on-watch-from-above.html
Titel: Re:Canadian FWSAR competition
Bericht door: JdL op 16/02/2016 | 17:05 uur
Ik hoop als Europeaan op een order voor de C295 maar zo te lezen zal het de C27 wel worden.
Titel: Re:Canadian FWSAR competition
Bericht door: dudge op 16/02/2016 | 17:53 uur
Citaat van: JdL op 16/02/2016 | 17:05 uur
Ik hoop als Europeaan op een order voor de C295 maar zo te lezen zal het de C27 wel worden.

Minder Europees dan de C295, maar nog steeds een Europees product.
Titel: Re:Canadian FWSAR competition
Bericht door: dudge op 16/02/2016 | 17:54 uur
Citaat van: Harald op 16/02/2016 | 17:03 uur
Maar ...... Canada gebruik nu ook de Hercs, als zij voor de 130J zouden gaan zou het kwa kennis, opleidingen en onderhoud een veel makkelijkere overgang zijn.
Maar LM heeft de HC-130J niet aangeboden, dus... 
Daarom wordt nu (denk ik) ook de 27J  (baby Herc) al als favoriet benoemd. Cockpit en motoren gelijk aan C-130J

Kunnen ze samen werken met de US Coast Guard, al hoewel ze daar nog steeds bezig zijn met de integratie van de systemen.
http://www.defensemedianetwork.com/stories/integrating-the-spartan/

De US Coast Guard vliegt ook met de C-235, bij de US bekend als de HC-144A Ocean Sentry. Daar had LM nog wel een aandeel in voor levering/aanbrengen van systemen.

On Watch from Above
http://www.lockheedmartin.com/us/mst/features/121008-on-watch-from-above.html

Zoals in het artikel ook staat, misschien is de Herc gewoon te duur, en de order te klein.
Titel: Re:Canadian FWSAR competition
Bericht door: Ace1 op 16/02/2016 | 20:18 uur
Citaat van: JdL op 16/02/2016 | 17:05 uur
Ik hoop als Europeaan op een order voor de C295 maar zo te lezen zal het de C27 wel worden.

Een vergelijking tussen de C295 en de C-27J.


http://flaps-aviacion-aviation-luftfahrt.blogspot.nl/2012/01/comparing-airbus-c295-vs-alenania-c-27j.html
Titel: Re:Canadian FWSAR competition
Bericht door: JdL op 16/02/2016 | 20:24 uur
Citaat van: Ace1 op 16/02/2016 | 20:18 uur
Een vergelijking tussen de C295 en de C-27J.


http://flaps-aviacion-aviation-luftfahrt.blogspot.nl/2012/01/comparing-airbus-c295-vs-alenania-c-27j.html

volgens dit artikel is de C295 dus duidelijk superieur in tactical transport.
Maar voor FWSAR zijn andere capaciteiten belangrijk al lijkt de C295 daar ook goed te scoren.
Ik dacht ook gehoord te hebben dat de C295 goedkoper was per vlieguur en minder onderhoudskosten heeft, klopt dit?
Titel: Re:Canadian FWSAR competition
Bericht door: Ace1 op 16/02/2016 | 20:29 uur
Citaat van: JdL op 16/02/2016 | 20:24 uur
volgens dit artikel is de C295 dus duidelijk superieur in tactical transport.

Als ik het goed weet is de C-27J wel goedkoper in aanschaf dan en de C295 maar de gebruikskosten van de C-27J zijn aanzienlijk duurder door de C-130J motoren.
Titel: Re: Canadian FWSAR competition
Bericht door: Harald op 08/12/2016 | 10:09 uur
Canada heeft een keuze gemaakt ... C295

Sajjan to announce Airbus C-295 aircraft as winner of fixed wing search and rescue project

Defence Minister Harjit Sajjan, Public Services and Procurement Minister Judy Foote and the Commander of the Royal Canadian Air Force Lieutenant-General Michael Hood will be in Trenton Thursday morning to announce the winner of the fixed wing search and rescue competition.

Here is the article I had on Tuesday at the National Post/Ottawa Citizen:

The Liberal government will announce the winner of a multi-billion dollar program for new search and rescue aircraft on Thursday, even as industry sources say aerospace giant Airbus has won the deal.

The announcement was planned for Winnipeg on Thursday but at the last minute was changed to the Canadian Forces base at Trenton, Ont., sources say.

The Airbus C-295 was selected over the C-27J built by the Italian firm, Leonardo.

Airbus officials declined to comment, referring questions to the government. Federal government officials did not immediately respond.

The $3-billion project is divided into a contract for the acquisition of the aircraft and another contract for 20 years of in-service support. Airbus has teamed with Provincial Aerospace, which will handle in-service support for the planes. The aircraft are also equipped with Pratt and Whitney Canada engines. CAE of Montreal will provide the training and simulators for the aircrew.

Airbus has promised to build a new training facility in Comox, BC for aircrews.

Sources say the aircraft from both competitors were compliant in the bidding process but that Airbus edged out Leonardo on price. Both firms had also promised a full package of industrial benefits for Canadian firms.

The Brazilian aerospace firm Embraer submitted a bid for its KC-390 aircraft but the plane only made its maiden flight in 2015 and it is not yet in full production.

Government planners hope to have a C-295 on hand at Trenton for the announcement.

The fixed-wing search and rescue aircraft deal is seen as a good news story and could provide a welcome diversion for the Liberals to shift attention away from their controversial sole-source purchase of Super Hornet fighter jets.

The RCAF expects all of the new search and rescue aircraft to be delivered by 2023.

The project originally envisioned acquiring 17 planes. But that has now changed and will be capability based, say government officials. The aerospace firms submitted in their bids the numbers of aircraft they believe are needed for Canada to handle the needed search and rescue capability.

The new search and rescue planes will replace the RCAF's 40-year-old Buffalo aircraft and older model C-130s currently assigned to search-and-rescue duties.

The Buffalos, first purchased in 1967, are key to search and rescue on the West Coast and in parts of the Rockies. Those aircraft are already facing mechanical and technical problems and, several years ago, the air force had difficulty obtaining spare propellers.

RCAF commander Lt. Gen. Mike Hood recently told the Vancouver Sun that the national training facility for the new aircraft would be located in Comox, BC.

The training facility would include flight simulators to help pilots train.

During the interview Hood promoted the spinoff economic benefits to Comox of the new training facility and the additional personnel that would be based there.

http://ottawacitizen.com/news/national/defence-watch/sajjan-to-announce-airbus-c-295-aircraft-as-winner-as-fixed-wing-search-and-rescue-project