Castilla y Belmonte
08-02-2008, 16:54
The Castillian Ejército del Aire, otherwise known as the Castillian Royal Air Force (CRAF), is looking forward to a multi-billion dollar procurement program to modernize its fleet of fighter and multi-role aircraft. Currently, the CRAF operates a small number of obsolete fighters acquired during the Castillian Civil War (1967-1973), and since then the air force has been operating under the shadow of the Ejército de Tierra. However, with the recent decision (in the mid-90s) to modernize the entire Castillian armed forces to become technologically equal with the kingdom’s regional neighbors the air force is slated to receive a huge chunk of the nation’s defense budget for the coming ten years. This will allow the air force to procure an ample amount of fighter aircraft, multi-role aircraft, strategic lifters, tanker aircraft and fast aircraft for the destruction of enemy air defenses (DEAD). It should be noted that the Castillian Air Force is deficient in all of those areas, but in regards to SEAD, DEAD and airlift capability, the CRAF has absolute no aircraft to speak of – this includes the necessary tanker fleet to keep large aircraft in the sky longer. Unfortunately, the Kingdom of Castilla y Belmonte does not have the ample industry to fund, research and produce indigenous aircraft of this type, and therefore the Ministry of Defense (MdE) has opted to outsource the contract, with hopes of producing the necessary aircraft to main contractor of indigenous service – namely, ACR (Aeronautica Castillana Real).
ACR is, indeed, the main contractor for the air force’s future tactical lifter, which is designed to carry a maximum of 32,000 kilograms of weight – the maximum range of the aircraft with this weight has not yet been disclosed. ACR, along with a number of subcontractors, will also provide the Ejército del Aire with a close air support aircraft, designed to operate with the Ejército de Tierra, and a jet trainer to train future pilots. ACR is also looking to gain the ability to design and manufacture more advance and nimble aircraft, such as multi-role fighters or even next-generation air superiority fighter aircraft. Therefore, the main contract for any future procurement will be established through ACR, which will ‘subcontract’ to the manufacturer of the chosen aircraft. The Ministry of Defense and the Ministry of Industry, Agriculture and Trade is looking to manufacture at least 70% of all aircraft at home, with a varying level of nationalization of the product – between 40% and 80%, depending on the batch. Therefore, any contract will play a large part in the development of the country’s aeronautical capabilities, and the contract will include payment for the hiring of contractors to expand ACR’s capability to produce the chosen aircraft. The Ministry of Defense, in conjunction with the CRAF, is looking forward to finishing production of the chosen aircraft within a time frame of five years (at the maximum), therefore the decision to produce 70% of all aircraft at home may not be as realistic as originally thought. Nevertheless, the details will be in the contract ultimately signed.
The Ejército del Aire is looking to acquire a total of four hundred air superiority fighters within the next five years. It’s hoped that at least 30% of these will be manufactured at home, with a level of nationalization of around 40%. The contract will include the option for two future batches of four hundred aircraft each, so possibly the contract will include the option for a total of one thousand two hundred aircraft, although these will be accepted into the air force over a longer period of time. Nevertheless, it’s hoped that these two second batches will be almost entirely built in Castilla, if not all of the aircraft, with a high level of nationalization (approaching 80%). However, for the time being the four hundred air superiority fighters procured will increase the CRAF’s ability by over 300%, replacing the ninety-four obsolete fighters the CRAF currently operates. Although these are characteristics the CRAF is looking for in all of the aircraft, the air superiority fighter holds particular interests and given the costs of new generation air superiority fighters perhaps these characteristics are more important to guarantee for this part of the tender. The CRAF and the Ministry of Defense are looking for a highly capable aircraft, but are not tossing affordability out the window. However, the Ministry of Defense sees affordability in both the first time cost of procurement and the amount of money expected to have to pay over time. Therefore, an aircraft should also be reliable and time for refit should be lengthened as much as possible.
This holds true for a multi-role fighter, although these are normally cheaper than their air superiority cousins. The CRAF is looking to procure a total of six hundred of these in the first batch, with a further option of another one thousand eight hundred spread out between three separate batches. The first batch, as mentioned already, is expected to end within the first five years of the contract. The secondary batches will not have a defined start or end date, and their ultimate fulfillment will be decided by the Ministry of Defense at a later date – the foreign contractor will be forewarned and a second contract will be established. In terms of the strategic lifter, the CRAF will acquire a total of eighty of these in the first five years, replacing forty tactical lifters the CRAF currently operates; these will be joined by approximately two hundred of the indigenous tactical lifter which will enter production soon. No further others are expected, although the contract will include an option for a future one hundred and twenty. In terms of the strategic lifter, the CRAF is looking for affordability and reliability. The Ejército de Tierra and other land systems do not operate under the veil of ‘air transportability’ and therefore the strategic lifters will not serve the purpose of transporting heavy equipment – this will be left to the Royal Armada.
The Ministry of Defense is looking for more options in regards to the tanker. The MdE is hoping that the contractor will be able to partner with ACR for the design of a tanker aircraft based on the future tactical transport (probably called the ACR-295). The contractor will be paid for its services, but not for the amount of aircraft produced, given that the aircraft would be property of the Ministry of Defense, ACR and the Ejército del Aire. Besides, multiple millions of dollars will be administered to contractors for the expansion of the CRAF’s current air bases, and the construction of another six major air bases throughout the country, and another large airbase in the new military base in Northford – although this latter airbase will be given less aircraft than it will be capable for. Contracts for industrial expansion will be awarded to the companies chosen for their specific design, as the industry will have to be expanded to begin production of their aircraft. This will add several million to any given deal decided upon. Furthermore, each contract will include spare parts for two years, whereas spare parts will be consequently indigenously produced inside of the country.
ACR is, indeed, the main contractor for the air force’s future tactical lifter, which is designed to carry a maximum of 32,000 kilograms of weight – the maximum range of the aircraft with this weight has not yet been disclosed. ACR, along with a number of subcontractors, will also provide the Ejército del Aire with a close air support aircraft, designed to operate with the Ejército de Tierra, and a jet trainer to train future pilots. ACR is also looking to gain the ability to design and manufacture more advance and nimble aircraft, such as multi-role fighters or even next-generation air superiority fighter aircraft. Therefore, the main contract for any future procurement will be established through ACR, which will ‘subcontract’ to the manufacturer of the chosen aircraft. The Ministry of Defense and the Ministry of Industry, Agriculture and Trade is looking to manufacture at least 70% of all aircraft at home, with a varying level of nationalization of the product – between 40% and 80%, depending on the batch. Therefore, any contract will play a large part in the development of the country’s aeronautical capabilities, and the contract will include payment for the hiring of contractors to expand ACR’s capability to produce the chosen aircraft. The Ministry of Defense, in conjunction with the CRAF, is looking forward to finishing production of the chosen aircraft within a time frame of five years (at the maximum), therefore the decision to produce 70% of all aircraft at home may not be as realistic as originally thought. Nevertheless, the details will be in the contract ultimately signed.
The Ejército del Aire is looking to acquire a total of four hundred air superiority fighters within the next five years. It’s hoped that at least 30% of these will be manufactured at home, with a level of nationalization of around 40%. The contract will include the option for two future batches of four hundred aircraft each, so possibly the contract will include the option for a total of one thousand two hundred aircraft, although these will be accepted into the air force over a longer period of time. Nevertheless, it’s hoped that these two second batches will be almost entirely built in Castilla, if not all of the aircraft, with a high level of nationalization (approaching 80%). However, for the time being the four hundred air superiority fighters procured will increase the CRAF’s ability by over 300%, replacing the ninety-four obsolete fighters the CRAF currently operates. Although these are characteristics the CRAF is looking for in all of the aircraft, the air superiority fighter holds particular interests and given the costs of new generation air superiority fighters perhaps these characteristics are more important to guarantee for this part of the tender. The CRAF and the Ministry of Defense are looking for a highly capable aircraft, but are not tossing affordability out the window. However, the Ministry of Defense sees affordability in both the first time cost of procurement and the amount of money expected to have to pay over time. Therefore, an aircraft should also be reliable and time for refit should be lengthened as much as possible.
This holds true for a multi-role fighter, although these are normally cheaper than their air superiority cousins. The CRAF is looking to procure a total of six hundred of these in the first batch, with a further option of another one thousand eight hundred spread out between three separate batches. The first batch, as mentioned already, is expected to end within the first five years of the contract. The secondary batches will not have a defined start or end date, and their ultimate fulfillment will be decided by the Ministry of Defense at a later date – the foreign contractor will be forewarned and a second contract will be established. In terms of the strategic lifter, the CRAF will acquire a total of eighty of these in the first five years, replacing forty tactical lifters the CRAF currently operates; these will be joined by approximately two hundred of the indigenous tactical lifter which will enter production soon. No further others are expected, although the contract will include an option for a future one hundred and twenty. In terms of the strategic lifter, the CRAF is looking for affordability and reliability. The Ejército de Tierra and other land systems do not operate under the veil of ‘air transportability’ and therefore the strategic lifters will not serve the purpose of transporting heavy equipment – this will be left to the Royal Armada.
The Ministry of Defense is looking for more options in regards to the tanker. The MdE is hoping that the contractor will be able to partner with ACR for the design of a tanker aircraft based on the future tactical transport (probably called the ACR-295). The contractor will be paid for its services, but not for the amount of aircraft produced, given that the aircraft would be property of the Ministry of Defense, ACR and the Ejército del Aire. Besides, multiple millions of dollars will be administered to contractors for the expansion of the CRAF’s current air bases, and the construction of another six major air bases throughout the country, and another large airbase in the new military base in Northford – although this latter airbase will be given less aircraft than it will be capable for. Contracts for industrial expansion will be awarded to the companies chosen for their specific design, as the industry will have to be expanded to begin production of their aircraft. This will add several million to any given deal decided upon. Furthermore, each contract will include spare parts for two years, whereas spare parts will be consequently indigenously produced inside of the country.