Transport Aircraft

I think you mean hopelessly high…🤣

Why is the purchase of a secondhand aircraft not allowed?

They won't do you a 'standard' airliner layout, thats not what business jets are for.

The upper limit of capacity is 16 passengers, 2 flight crew and 1 steward.

Thats not just dictated by the desire for luxury, its things like baggage capacity x pax, fuel efficiency, aircraft payload balancing etc.

The highest capacity of 16 means a configuration of typical bizjet seats and belted couches, with no bedrooms and one small toilet. This is a Falcon 8X interior below.

If someone wants a 2x1 airliner arrangement, they should probably buy an airliner.

If you look back at the news reports at the time the A105 was heavily tipped as a replacement

We are certainly **** at contracts. Right through the public sector.

The establishment of the Office of Government Procurement, during the austerity era, was supposed to revolutionise procurement effectiveness at all levels. It has failed.

__

With our normal procurement timeline, it should have been started years ago, even if it starts now I don't see even IOC in 2028.

AW149 will probably be in the mix.

But if the plan to dedicate some helicopters to special forces use and heavier military taskings follows through, then by 2028 the Airbus H175M super-medium, will be maturing nicely.

Bold assumption that thought has gone into capital purchases, I mean given our track record…

AW169 is smaller than the 139. AW189 is in the super medium category, but thats a civi spec/Coastguard heli I think, not sure if theres a Mil equivelent.

The recommendation was Super Medium and that's what we're looking at so it's bye-bye to the AW139 in any version.

Realistically, we're looking at either AW149 or H175M if we get the military spec version. (Civilian version of AW149 is the AW189).

The Chinese are the only ones operating a military version and its slightly different to the H175.

Like you said In a previous post about the tender for the government jet they kept it basic x amount of people and x amount of distance and see what comes back. Hopefully they do the same here x amount of soldiers and cargo carried and x distance it can go. See what the market comes back. The only problem is if they stick to the technical term of super medium that leaves only 2 aircraft. Maybe there mind is set on the aw189 already

Maybe the fear that Finance and DPER after having collective heart attacks from the sticker price, will kill off any investment? Though in the case of the two extra “139s”, I’m wondering what is the state of the 6?

That 149 looks the biz all right. Had a look at the spec on the company website. Didn't realise how roomy it is. Would have come in dead handy on the recent ARW gig.

The EU open tender acquisition process is not required for a state's national security needs. (Normally applied for every government purchase over €140000)

For defence tenders it can be beneficial to exact a good financial deal, even when a preferred bidder is known in advance.

If the need is pressing as with the military airlift capability, a state can bypass the tender requirement entirely.

I still think we'll see a tender here. Even if the 149 is the preferred outcome. The weighted criteria are key to determining the outcome.