Govt cancels Airbus purchase

[Sackboy]

The specs are for an aircraft that can take a PUMA/ORYX without dismantling it.

 

[TheHiveMind]

So the government can pay the 40 billion of tax payers money for eskoms expansion? Seems there is room in the budget now, without rate increases.

 

[Sackboy]

So the government can pay the 40 billion of tax payers money for eskoms expansion? Seems there is room in the budget now, without rate increases.

Not exactly, because the airforce still 'needs' some aeroplanes. They'll probably lease some.

 

[Ou grote]

I remember reading a while back that Denel had received official certification to service/repair the C130's. How about we buy a few old 747-300's and convert them for freight use? They have the range, parts are plentiful, also quite a few 747-300 rated pilots looking for work from what I've heard.

Not enough kickbacks

 

[supersunbird]

I figured out they can buy around 30 NEW C130J's for R17 billion which would mean lots of planes to spread the workload.

Probably the 8 C17's if they really want too...

 

[krycor]

The Airbus spokesman response was funny.. guess they were expecting SA to fold to their demands

 

[hyperian]

The specs are for an aircraft that can take a PUMA/ORYX without dismantling it.

If that's the only requirement, then wouldn't it be cheaper to replace the Puma and Oryx with choppers that can fit into standard freighters?

 

[rebel998]

Amazing!!

The first time these guys actually saved us money?

But don't we need these plains?

 

[Sackboy]

If that's the only requirement, then wouldn't it be cheaper to replace the Puma and Oryx with choppers that can fit into standard freighters?

You're hired!

LOL

 

[hyperian]

You're hired!

LOL

When do I start?

With all the money needed for Eskom and apparently for the water department too, we need to be thrifty with all this money. I'm pretty sure there are better solutions available that the airbus aircraft. And then we could use whatever money remains to take the Eskom-increase burden off the consumers.

 

[BBSA]

Wonder if the officials will have to payback the bribes they received?

 

[KemoSabi]

Still got a bad feeling about this. You don't just pull out of a huge contract like that. Airbus is a major company, and their Contracts wont allow for something like this...

I just hope the Defense department has gone against everything we know them to be capable off, and actually studied the contract. Otherwise, welcome on in the penalties. Then its taboo, we pay for their ****up anyway have nothing to show for it.

The guy from Airbus was on 702 last night, and claimed the cost of the contract is 890Mil euro's it has never escalated, They believe the Defense force is including training, revamping of Waterkloof base and a whole lot of other ****e into that 40bill price tag. So....all we can do is wait.

In these times any thing that seems like good news has to be dissected and investigated before us poor saps can truly breath a sigh of relief.

 

[siphox]

Wonder if the officials will have to payback the bribes they received?

Has there been accusations of corruption?

 

[MidnightWizard]

C17

Probably the 8 C17's if they really want too...

Please tell more.

This was the aircraft I had my eye on from the start.

Probably be able to lease a couple from the DOD at VERY good rates at the moment.

RAF as well as RAAF are using them.

This plane was MADE for Africa.


How far can one trust the French / Airbus ? They in deep sh@t at the moment.

How far can one trust the Gov / ANC -- ALWAYS with empty back pockets and the "begging bowl".


MW

 

[BBSA]

Has there been accusations of corruption?

In Africa you do not sign a multi-billion contract with out some "goodwill money"

 

[Mila]

Has there been accusations of corruption?

Was the whole arms deal not laced with Corruption? And if this is for the SA Army this is this not part of the arms deal?

( Serious Question )

 

[noxibox]

In [-]Africa[/-] the arms business you do not sign a multi-billion contract with out some "goodwill money"

Fixed it for you.

 

[Palimino]

Government has decided to terminate the controversial contract to purchase eight military A400 Airbus strategic lift aircraft.

This is all so staggeringly dumb. Too late for the rational decision to buy Hercules C130-type, unarmed transport aircraft (a better buy than the useless Griffin fighters). These aircraft have multiple uses and have the potential to be useful as they are rough-field transport aircraft so can transport peacekeeping troops, food aid, medicine, refugees etc. There is more chance of AA pilots flying them. If they had gone for the transport option, critics would have been muted about the prodigious waste and corruption associated with the original arms deal as a strong case can be made for the C130 type aircraft’s deployment in Africa. Instead, the arms deal favoured maintenance intensive, expensive killing machines, flown by single, highly-skilled, air-conditioned systems experts (not AA appointees) firing ammunition costing R1000’s. What about the skills required to maintain them? If our defence capability required refurbishment, the SA mods. to the French Mirage fighter jets (Cheetah) and existing helicopter tech. (Rooivalk) would have deterred any potential enemies (and would have given any country a hard time). Maintenance and flying skills for them already existed. Dumb.

 

[Albereth]

We do not need strategic airlift capable machines.

Instead of rushing off with humanitarian aid or peace keepers we should rather insist that the tin pot dictators put plans of their own in place to sort out the trouble. And, as Gift of the Givers demonstrate, what is wrong with chartering a plane when you need it?

 

[Sackboy]

I figured out they can buy around 30 NEW C130J's for R17 billion which would mean lots of planes to spread the workload.

Probably the 8 C17's if they really want too...

I'm not sure if the US wants to give us the C17. I know the UK had to beg and bow for it. You also need special infrastructure and devices to load and unload it. The Antonov is far more practical.