MIN 89/97 Tuesday, 1 July, 1997
THREE COMPANIES SHORT-LISTED FOR CARIBOU REPLACEMENT
The Minister for Defence, Mr McLachlan, announced today that three companies had been short-listed as potential suppliers for the Australian Defence Force's new Light Transport Aircraft.
The new aircraft will maintain the capability currently represented by the Royal Australian Air Force's DHC-4 Caribou aircraft and will be used primarily in the tactical air transport role.
Mr McLachlan said the short-listed companies were CASA from Spain with two options, the CN235-300M and the C-295M; IPTN from Indonesia with the CN235-330 'Phoenix'; and Lockheed Martin Alenia Tactical Transport Systems (LMATTS) offering the C-27J 'Spartan'.
The three bidders were selected as potential suppliers following an evaluation of responses to a world-wide Invitation to Register Interest in the project. The three will be invited to respond to a Request for Tender later this year.
The Minister expressed his pleasure at the interest shown in the project by a wide range of aircraft manufacturing companies. He was also pleased with the level of interest evident in Australian industry to participate as sub-contractors during the acquisition and through-life support of the new aircraft.
The Light Transport Aircraft, or LTA, will be a fixed-wing aircraft in the 15,000 - 30,000 kilogram weight range and capable of continuous operations in conditions likely to be encountered in Australian or regional environments. It will also be required to carry loads of approximately five tonnes over an unrefuelled radius of action of at least 350 nautical miles under tactical profiles.
Further information:
Ministerial, Jim Bonner Ph 0419 438490
Departmental, WGCDR Nick Coulson Ph 06-2661869 (b/h) 06-2416949 (a/h)