Asian Aerospace a Watershed for Regional Upsurge in Aerospace Spending

摘要

The Asian Aerospace 2002 exhibition, which was held from February 28 to March 3 at Singapore, saw increased activities as the companies showcased new-generation defence and aerospace products to the growing Asia-Pacific market. Besides the big international players in the industry, the region's largest aerospace show also attracted companies from the Asia-Pacific. Alenia Aerospazio officials at the exhibition told ADJ that in December last year, the Aeronautics Division of Alenia Aerospazio was transferred to a new company known as Alenia Aeronautica SA, which became operational from January 1, 2002. The Avionics Systems & Equipment Division of Finmeccanica's Alenia Difesa group has recently been renamed Galileo Avionica. Its activities include design, development, test and production of avionics, airborne radars (through FIAR), and Optronics. It also undertakes similar work on fire-control systems for MBTs, AFVs, and AA guns, artillery automation, simulators, tactical and training Meteor UAVs, and space equipment for platforms and payloads. Galileo Avionica was showing its mission core system for Aermacchi's new M346 advanced trainer, plus FIAR's new Grifo 2000/16 lightweight multi-mode airborne radar, installed in F-16s. A Grifo S-7 radar, as installed in the Chengdu F-7 combat aircraft, was also shown at China's CATIC stand. Over 350 Grifo radars have now been produced for a variety of light combat aircraft, including the Dassault Mirage III, Aero L-159 and Northrop F-5.