BAE talks to Mitsubishi for licence production for Japan

[Rob L]

I thought this deserved a new thread. I'm convinced that the strategy of BAE Systems to market the Eurofighter as a "Japofighter" is very good. This is the way they'll get a lot more acceptance from Japan for a Eurofighter deal. I wonder if they are also considering integration of a Japanese radar? Don't they have an AESA in the F2? And what weapons would be integrated? Will Eurojet or Rolls-Royce try to sign a similar agreement for the EJ200? What about technology transfer?

BAE says in talks with M'bishi Heavy on Typhoon deal
Thu May 31, 2007 12:10 PM BST15
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TOKYO, May 31 (Reuters) - BAE Systems Plc (BA.L: Quote, Profile , Research) is in talks with Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Ltd. (MHI) (7011.T: Quote, NEWS , Research) about possibly licensing it to manufacture the Eurofighter Typhoon, an executive of Europe's top military contractor said on Thursday.

"At the moment our main discussion is with MHI, and they have demonstrably the most significant fighter aircraft capability of the Japanese industry team," Nigel Whitehead, group managing director at BAE, told Reuters in an interview.

"But the relationship will not necessarily be limited to MHI."

Mitsubishi Heavy already makes F-15J fighters under a license agreement with Boeing Co. (BA.N: Quote, Profile , Research), Patriot missiles with Raytheon Co. (RTN.N: Quote, Profile , Research) and vertical launching systems with Lockheed Martin Corp. (LMT.N: Quote, Profile , Research), but it has no big projects with BAE.

Japan has been a tough market for non-U.S. contractors such as BAE because U.S. rivals such as Boeing Co. (BA.N: Quote, Profile , Research) and Lockheed Martin Corp. (LMT.N: Quote, Profile , Research) have a strong grip on the market.

But Japan has said it would consider buying the Eurofighter Typhoon, which is built by a consortium headed by BAE, as it plans to start replacing its fleet of 60 F-4 fighters as well as training aircraft in the next couple of years.

Any BAE deal with MHI would be contingent on the government choosing the Eurofighter.

Link: http://investing.reuters.co.uk/news/articleinvesting.aspx?type=allBreakingNews&storyID=2007-05-31T111016Z_01_TKB002734_RTRIDST_0_BAESYSTEMS-INTERVIEW.XML

[swerve]

Yes, they have an AESA radar in the F-2. Made by Mitsubishi Electric. By all accounts, it didn't work very well to start with (software issues?). I don't know to what extent the faults have been fixed, though I note that it's still in production.

Agreed that offering licence production & the integration of Japanese equipment is the way to go.

[Jon Lake]

Japan's experience with the F2 will guarantee that they are more aware than most customers as to the real disadvantages of AESA as well as the advantages.

Assuming that they will want an AESA at all costs is perhaps premature.

[Hobby]

Dear Jon

As I am a complete ignoramous in regards to modern radar technology can you point me in the right direction (link / magazine article whatever) to gain some wisdom on the topic of AESA Vs Manual please.

Enjoy...

[Jon Lake]

I haven't seen such an article, yet......

[Hobby]

Dear Jon,

Please write one.

I can promise not to call you biased towards either of them.

M

[ohm1860]

<<I thought this deserved a new thread. I'm convinced that the strategy of BAE Systems to market the Eurofighter as a "Japofighter" is very good >>


Whether the strategy is good or bad is immterial. Japan can't and won't buy anything but hardware made in US.
It will be a political decision, politics will play here a far greater role than in Korea!

[Jon Lake]

I agree, broadly, though the JMSDF EH101 purchase shows that Japan is open to alternatives to US kit. Not very open, mind.....

[swerve]

<... Japan can't and won't buy anything but hardware made in US.
It will be a political decision, ...

Can, but probably won't. Agreed about the politics.

[JQ01]

It will be a political decision, politics will play here a far greater role than in Korea!

Korea wan an economic decision, not a political one.

In their first contest, there is no other plane that can give the specs that they want in the time that they want. In the second one, the winer of the first has a great advantage due logistic. It´s very simple.

In japan they only have two real choices. Or EF or raptor. If they can get Raptor forget EF, but it´s very difficult get the F-22.