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In another, let’s say, interesting move since the unsuccessful plan to bid in the US tanker competition with Ukrainian aircraft manufacturer Antonov in late 2010, U.S. Aerospace, Inc. reportedly is negotiating the possible co-operation with the state-run Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC) to compete against established US manufacturers in future US defence procurement programmes.
According to a recent report by the Wall Street Journal (WSJ), the Chinese aerospace group, which received great attention in the Western media for state-of-the-art fighter aircraft projects, including the stealthy Chengdu J-20, is in talks with U.S. Aerospace to offer the Avicopter AC313 for the replacement programme of the Marine One presidential helicopter. WSJ’s information, reportedly, is based on unidentified sources involved in the alleged partnership.
In addition to the fact that such a partnership is rather unlikely to be awarded any significant defence contract (), the probability of such a partnership coming into effect may also be questioned. In March 2010, U.S. Aerospace caused a great stir when its Los Angeles-based lawyer, John Kirkland, announced that the company would bid in the KC-X tanker programme together with Russia’s United Aircraft Corporation (UAC). However, these reports were quickly disclaimed by a UAC spokesman, saying that such rumours were absurd and that the company did not have any plans to enter the competition. That same year, U.S. Aerospace teamed up with Antonov , and Kirkland confirmed to Reuters that the company would submit its offer, even if the Pentagon rejected their request – the bid was then rejected for having been filed too late.
Now, U.S. Aerospace, which is being referred to by the WSJ as a “tiny, unprofitable California company”, is apparently trying their luck with a Chinese partner. According to WSJ, the two companies are also interested in putting forward the Hongdu L-15 Falcon supersonic advanced jet trainer as a candidate to replace the ageing T-38 fleet. The US Air Force and its allies are expected to purchase a great number of future trainer aircraft during the next few years to prepare pilots to fly supersonic fighter aircraft.
According to a recent report by the Wall Street Journal (WSJ), the Chinese aerospace group, which received great attention in the Western media for state-of-the-art fighter aircraft projects, including the stealthy Chengdu J-20, is in talks with U.S. Aerospace to offer the Avicopter AC313 for the replacement programme of the Marine One presidential helicopter. WSJ’s information, reportedly, is based on unidentified sources involved in the alleged partnership.
In addition to the fact that such a partnership is rather unlikely to be awarded any significant defence contract (), the probability of such a partnership coming into effect may also be questioned. In March 2010, U.S. Aerospace caused a great stir when its Los Angeles-based lawyer, John Kirkland, announced that the company would bid in the KC-X tanker programme together with Russia’s United Aircraft Corporation (UAC). However, these reports were quickly disclaimed by a UAC spokesman, saying that such rumours were absurd and that the company did not have any plans to enter the competition. That same year, U.S. Aerospace teamed up with Antonov , and Kirkland confirmed to Reuters that the company would submit its offer, even if the Pentagon rejected their request – the bid was then rejected for having been filed too late.
Now, U.S. Aerospace, which is being referred to by the WSJ as a “tiny, unprofitable California company”, is apparently trying their luck with a Chinese partner. According to WSJ, the two companies are also interested in putting forward the Hongdu L-15 Falcon supersonic advanced jet trainer as a candidate to replace the ageing T-38 fleet. The US Air Force and its allies are expected to purchase a great number of future trainer aircraft during the next few years to prepare pilots to fly supersonic fighter aircraft.
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