Cogitatio1: Tanker Concerns Go Deeper

Boeing KC-46 deliveries have been suspended by the USAF customer following discovery of multiple instances of loose tools and debris on newly delivered KC-46s.

Multiple factors can contribute to such events. In our opinion, key issues can range from traveled work, to delays, to rushing production to meet deadline(s); all of these issues have indeed been…

AIR64 – A Matter of Loyalty

We will not revisit in detail the background for “Loyal Wingman” as an AFRL program, there is plenty of documentation available in the public domain for us to review on the issue. This effort stems from the Low-Cost Attritable Strike Unmanned Aerial System Demonstration (LCASD), a proof-of-concept initiative designed to provide an unmanned combat air vehicle (UCAV) that can execute a variety of mission at a fraction of the cost and risk of an F-35 or even F-15E. This is nothing new, Boeing has been working on such an approach since the late 1990s, with one of their first effort being a study with Dassault Aviation about manned/unmanned joint operations in the early 2000s.

The agreement between Boeing and the Australian government to proceed with the “Loyal Wingman” concept is particularly interesting for a number of reasons: operational, industrial and strategic.

Operational:

Loyal Wingman (LW) will integrate into the RAAF Airpower Teaming System as a force multiplier. First, for EW and reconnaissance missions; then as part of a….

AIR61 – Revealing uncertainties

One Step Forward, Two Steps Backward
Boeing’s CEO, Dennis Muilenburg has added to the uncertainty surrounding the NMA (New Midsized Aircraft) introduction to market. During the presentation of the 2018 financial results, very strong it must be noted, the Boeing CEO has announced that an ATO (authority to offer) was likely in 2019 (no surprise), with a formal launch taking place in 2020 (surprise). This compresses the programme development timeline somewhat, and suggests that Boeing is either: a) far more ahead of the development curve than might be thought and thus has built-in margins; or b) Houston, we still have a problem with the industrialization for this program.
Fundamentally, this NMA equation, sounds more and more like a business case resolution matter to us…

AIR60 – 2019 is upon us – all hands on deck

AIR is presenting our new year outlook on what we expect to be the most significant issues, positive or negative, impacting the industry in 2019.

Our 2018 outlook predicted significant trade issues, impacts from monetary policies, a year of production surge challenges, and a strong merger and acquisition environment, all of which did materialize. Our forecast for commercial aircraft was suggesting about 790 commercial aircraft produced by Boeing (delivered) and 805 commercial aircraft for Airbus (not delivered). While it will take some time to decipher what rolled out of the FALs in December, it appears that both companies were quite close to their delivery targets….

AIR58 – 2018: Something About Uncertainty

> “Uncertainty is the worst of all ills, until reality makes us regret uncertainty.” Alphonse Karr

Year of Doubt

Was 2018 a sign of things to come or just the second year of a much large disruptive series of interesting events? For the commercial aerospace industry, it is probably a year that gave participants their strongest taste of what’s to come in the years ahead (production surge, economic slowdown, trade, and supply chain restructuring) and also perhaps, a year that took the polish of a somewhat artificially inflated , and speculative, financial market.The major surprise of 2018 is the disconnect between market fundamentals and stock market performance in a vast majority

AIR56 – Airbus’ Winter Offensive

Still a sensitive topic

The notoriously bitterly contested KC-X competition has left scars amongst customer, bidders and partners alike. There were many lessons derived from, some would argue, a questionable and at time chaotic process that led to the ultimate decision to select the Boeing KC-46A Pegasus.

Airbus and its original partner Northrop Grumman perhaps also tested the limits of globalization of supply sources in the US defense sector. Despite Northrop Grumman’s credentials and the significant US supplier content found on the A330 airframe, the competition kept of referring to the aircraft as French.

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