Did Pakistan drop Leonardo as lead on Sea Sultan aircraft conversion?

[Zarvan]

Did Pakistan drop Leonardo as lead on Sea Sultan aircraft conversion?
By Usman Ansari
Sep 9, 06:15 PM

A visitor disembarks from an Embraer Lineage 1000 aircraft at the Asian Business Aviation Conference and Exhibition held in Shanghai on March 27, 2012. (Peter Parks/AFP via Getty Images)

ISLAMABAD — Pakistan’s Navy has inducted into service its first Embraer Lineage 1000 jetliner, which is to be converted into the “Sea Sultan” design under the country’s long-range maritime patrol aircraft program. However, there remain unanswered questions surrounding the selection of a prime contractor and which company will carry out the conversion.

The Sept. 2 induction ceremony took place at PNS Mehran naval air station, where the P-3C Orion aircraft — which will be replaced by the Sea Sultan — operates.

A Navy release stated two more Lineage 1000 aircraft are under contract to “be equipped with the latest weapons and sensors to undertake Maritime Air Operations.”

Defense News reported in October that Pakistan selected the Brazilian-made Lineage 1000 for the program.

Pakistan previously hired Italy’s Leonardo as the prime contractor for the program, Defense News reported in July, and South Africa’s Paramount Group was to prepare the aircraft for conversion. But a source with knowledge of Pakistan’s defense programs told Defense News that Paramount Group is the lead contractor, with Leonardo relegated to supplying hardware.

He said Leonardo seems to have accepted this, knowing it could gain the experience to eventually independently offer a Lineage 1000 conversion. It’s unclear why Paramount Group was given the lead role.

The source, who spoke on condition of anonymity due to the sensitivity of the program, added that the first Sea Sultan will likely be used for training and liaison missions.

Former Australian defense attache to Islamabad and independent analyst Brian Cloughley described the Sea Sultan program as uncharacteristically quick by Pakistani standards.

“Acquisition of the new patrol aircraft is a welcome development for the PN, but it is intriguing that the usually lengthy contract process has taken such a short time. Apparently there were no competing tenders, and it is not known, indeed, if conventional procedures were followed,” he said.

“There has been no indication of exactly what systems exist in the aircraft delivered, and it is probable that much more work requires to be carried out. Involvement of South Africa’s Paramount Group is notable, and it is regrettable that the project’s mechanism is shrouded in unnecessary concealment.”

Publicly available information shows Paramount Group’s aerial platform experience is with light aircraft, UAVs and modernizing South Africa’s decommissioned fleet of Mirage F1 fighters.

The company did not return requests for comment on its capabilities regarding conversion and systems integration on larger platforms. Leonardo also did not respond to a request for comment.

Like other Pakistani procurement programs, the Ministry of Defence Production is handling the Sea Sultan effort. Defense News made several requests to the ministry to clarify whether Paramount Group is the lead contractor on the Sea Sultan program; on what basis it was selected; and how the contract was finalized so quickly, but there was no response.

Pakistan’s military has good working relationships with Leonardo as well as Germany’s Rheinland Air Service and Turkish Aerospace Industries, and those firms have considerable experience relevant to the Sea Sultan program. Paramount Group does not appear to have the same level of experience.

There is also no indication the Lineage 1000′s manufacturer, Embraer, is involved in the program. Analyst Alexandre Galante, who previously served in Brazil’s Navy, believes the company could have contributed its know-how, as it previously converted the E190 (from which the Lineage 1000 is derived).

“Embraer carried out studies a few years ago of a maritime patrol version of the E-Jet E190, but the project did not go ahead” he said, citing a lack of financial resources to invest in new equipment, as the military budget is mainly consumed by pay and pensions. “For this reason, the Brazilian Air Force purchased used P-3A aircraft and hired Airbus to modernize them.”

Nevertheless, he added, “Brazilians are looking with interest at the changes that the Pakistan Navy will make to the Embraer Lineage.”

But Guy Martin, who has followed South African military developments since 2004 and is an editor at defenceWeb, is confident Paramount Group can successfully carry out the conversion.

He pointed to work done by the company’s Paramount Advanced Technologies division (previously Advanced Technologies and Engineering) in supplying avionics for South Africa’s Hawk trainers as well as upgrading Spain’s Mirage F1s, Algeria’s Super Hind Mk3s and Azerbaijan’s Super Hind Mk4s. That gave the firm considerable experience in “weapons, sighting systems, helmet systems, and cockpit/avionics upgrades,” he added.

The division currently offers rotary- and fixed-wing integrated mission systems, such as its FLASH (Flexible Light Armaments System for Helicopters) weapon and sensor kit, which is already fitted to Iraqi Airbus EC635 helicopters. Its similar SWIFT system (Smart Weapons Integration on Fast-Jet Trainers) integrates a range of South African guided and unguided weaponry.

It can therefore integrate a wide variety of equipment, “as Paramount has nearly 40 partner companies for its SWIFT and FLASH suites,” Martin said.

“Paramount has also established partnerships with Boeing and more recently Leidos in the United States, and can bring these partners in on conversion projects should it need additional expertise.”

Did Pakistan drop Leonardo as lead on Sea Sultan aircraft conversion? (defensenews.com)

 

[Akh1112]

Well, paramount was the one doing airframe conversions and integration, so it would make sense to have them be the prime contractor, leonardo was always going to be relegated to systems and avionics, I think this was rather clear from the start, though, where this leaves the rotary bay, I’ll let others decide.

 

[DJ_Viper]

Did Pakistan drop Leonardo as lead on Sea Sultan aircraft conversion?

Yes they dropped it. I know why but won't state. But a good move on Pakistan's end to manage it's own naval interests.

 

[The Eagle]

First of all, why should a consortium, ministry of defence or relevant office ever reply to queries which are not supposed to be, given the nature of secrecy for military platform and developments in view of possible sabotage by the rivals or influencers. Secondly, if Paramount has top companies like Boeing & Leidos or 38 others, then what's the big deal to go with them for conversion.

Even though, it is not clear at all but an anonymous source said so and article came to light. May be a good way to fetch details and make some sentimental dude fall for it to spill the beans.

 

[Bilal Khan (Quwa)]

IMO ... if Paramount Group is the lead contractor, then it's possible that the PN is working to bring the conversion know-how to Pakistan.

Here's my rationale: Paramount Group is much smaller than Leonardo. There's likely overhead-sharing or, potentially, the PN absorbing the cost of the overhead on its own. In this case, there's plenty of incentive or cause to bring the know-how to Pakistan since, guess what, we're paying for most (or all) of the program. However, we also have the temper our expectations regarding the scope of the modifications. Ultimately, I think we can expect something in the ballpark of the Global 6000-based Swordfish MPA.

That said, even if Pakistan gets the know-how, I don't think it means we'll expand the fleet or export the system. Rather, we'll just take more ownership -- e.g., locally replace attrition losses (God forbid) or design and carry out mid-life updates, refits, etc.

 

[Bossman]

IMO ... if Paramount Group is the lead contractor, then it's possible that the PN is working to bring the conversion know-how to Pakistan.

Here's my rationale: Paramount Group is much smaller than Leonardo. There's likely overhead-sharing or, potentially, the PN absorbing the cost of the overhead on its own. In this case, there's plenty of incentive or cause to bring the know-how to Pakistan since, guess what, we're paying for most (or all) of the program. However, we also have the temper our expectations regarding the scope of the modifications. Ultimately, I think we can expect something in the ballpark of the Global 6000-based Swordfish MPA.

That said, even if Pakistan gets the know-how, I don't think it means we'll expand the fleet or export the system. Rather, we'll just take more ownership -- e.g., locally replace attrition losses (God forbid) or design and carry out mid-life updates, refits, etc.

Could be related to some of the work being done in Pakistan. Maybe at Nur Khan as it has resources for large aircraft modifications.

 

[Hakikat ve Hikmet]

The Turkish solution are there too...

 

[The Eagle]

IMO ... if Paramount Group is the lead contractor, then it's possible that the PN is working to bring the conversion know-how to Pakistan.

Here's my rationale: Paramount Group is much smaller than Leonardo. There's likely overhead-sharing or, potentially, the PN absorbing the cost of the overhead on its own. In this case, there's plenty of incentive or cause to bring the know-how to Pakistan since, guess what, we're paying for most (or all) of the program. However, we also have the temper our expectations regarding the scope of the modifications. Ultimately, I think we can expect something in the ballpark of the Global 6000-based Swordfish MPA.

That said, even if Pakistan gets the know-how, I don't think it means we'll expand the fleet or export the system. Rather, we'll just take more ownership -- e.g., locally replace attrition losses (God forbid) or design and carry out mid-life updates, refits, etc.

Sourced: If people may ever know the level of modernization or planned modernization/upgrade or the level of PN thinking for future; most of Bois will go nuts. (Verified)

 

[kursed]

Does PN have the standing capacity to absorb such know-how from Paramount Group in terms of aviation knowledge or this would mean PAC working with PN?

 

[Bossman]

Does PN have the standing capacity to absorb such know-how from Paramount Group in terms of aviation knowledge or this would mean PAC working with PN?

Not PN but PAF. Remember this is modification of a large airframe. It is not PAC’s forte but it’s is there with PAF as part of C130 overhaul and modifications.

I am more excited about this project than JF17. If we get it right we will have a plane comparable to P8, but we developed it and the Indians bought it off the shelf. No likes of Tejas for comparison or even in the world other than the P8 or the Japanese MPA. As I said earlier, PN must have balls to do what they are doing.

 

[kursed]

Not PN but PAF. Remember this is modification of large aircrafts. It is not PAC’s forte but it’s is there with PAF as part of C130 overhaul and modifications.

I am more excited about this project than JF17. If we get it right we will have plane comparable to P8, but we developed it and the Indians bought off the shelf. No likes of Tejas for comparison.

Interesting.

 

[Akh1112]

Not PN but PAF. Remember this is modification of a large aircrafts. It is not PAC’s forte but it’s is there with PAF as part of C130 overhaul and modifications.

I am more excited about this project than JF17. If we get it right we will have a plane comparable to P8, but we developed it and the Indians bought it off the shelf. No likes of Tejas for comparison or even in the world other than the P8 or the Japanese MPA. As I said earlier, PN must have balls to do what they are doing.

we’re ‘developing’ this as much as we ‘developed’ the JF-17, maybe even less.

we’re literally the middleman, our job is to hit approve on the solutions proposed to us for the airframe and then maybe in some weird world if somehow they decided to give pakistan the conversion work (they won’t- the reason paramount was selected was because they have experience on the platform- we don’t+ we don’t have facilities for it and developing those would be expensive) then we would have a little more control, however imo this is just an off the shelf buy with ‘extra steps’

 

[khanasifm]

Paramount

Paramount is a global aerospace and technology company with a reputation for ground-breaking technologies and innovations.

www.paramountgroup.com

 

[Bossman]

we’re ‘developing’ this as much as we ‘developed’ the JF-17, maybe even less.

we’re literally the middleman, our job is to hit approve on the solutions proposed to us for the airframe and then maybe in some weird world if somehow they decided to give pakistan the conversion work (they won’t- the reason paramount was selected was because they have experience on the platform- we don’t+ we don’t have facilities for it and developing those would be expensive) then we would have a little more control, however imo this is just an off the shelf buy with ‘extra steps’

I think it is more than that. Requirements have to be defined, project has to be managed, equipment from diverse sourced have to be integrated and tested, operating procedures and manual drafted, tactics developed, training curriculum developed and executed. For off the shelf purchases all this is part of the package

 

[SQ8]

It is a smaller firm but also some of what remains of Denel dynamics. Finally it is also possible that costs played a major factor as OEM can charge a lot for its own labor and more leverage with Paramount makes sense but hopefully not due to any kickbacks.