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747-237

http://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/india-looks-to-acquire-18-shinmaywa-us-2-amphibians-403341/

India looks to acquire 18 ShinMaywa US-2 amphibians

The Indian navy is looking to acquire 18 ShinMaywa US-2i amphibian aircraft, according to informed sources.

“The US-2i will be manufactured by the private sector and final assembly and integration will take place in India,” an official involved in the process says. This strategy will exclude state-owned Hindustan Aeronautics from any licenced production deal.

Deliveries are expected to begin in 2016-2018, depending on when a contract signature is obtained. Current plans call for two examples to be delivered each year, later rising to three. Flightglobal understands that the first US-2i to be assembled in India will roll out within five years of the order being placed.

The entire programme cost is estimated at around $3 billion across a seven-year period, with an offset component worth $900 million. The US-2i is estimated to have a unit cost of $90-115 million, depending on the configuration.

“ShinMaywa is planning to develop capabilities in India to realise exports worth $300 million annually from the country,” says an industry source, with its offset proposals including a plan to set up a post-doctoral centre for excellence in aerostructure design.

In what signals a transformational shift in bilateral relations, a statement released during Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s recent visit to Japan said that "both sides have directed the joint working group [JWG] to accelerate progress in the discussions and preparations for a road map for the development of the Indian aircraft industry through US-2 amphibian aircraft co-operation, including the transfer of the aircraft and its technology to India."

The JWG has seen representations from India's cabinet committee on security, defence ministry, ministry of external affairs and navy, and extensive discussions have already taken place.

The Indian navy could use the US-2i for a number of roles, such as crew rotation at sea, supply of spares to ships, long-range search and rescue and surveillance. A request for information for an amphibian type was issued in 2010.

The Japan maritime self-defence force currently operates seven US-2s, with ShinMaywa seeking its first export sales of the type.

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The_Goat · Posted: Sun Sep 07, 2014 12:04 pm Post subject:

Is it the same one ??

http://airlinersindia.s4.bizhat.com/airlinersindia-post-134319.html#134319
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I don't know which is the more pampered bunch : AI's widebodies (the aunties) or Jet's widebodies (the planes).
-Jasepl

shivendrashukla · Posted: Sun Sep 07, 2014 2:24 pm Post subject:

Yes, the aircraft is the same one.

Cheers
Shivendra

747-237 · Posted: Thu Oct 13, 2016 10:45 am Post subject:

https://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/japan-aerospace-india-us-2-deal-sees-no-progress-430292/

JAPAN AEROSPACE: India US-2 deal sees no progress

12 October, 2016

Shinmaywa continues slow production of its US-2 amphibian, as it awaits word about a possible sale of the type to India.

Shinmaywa officials say that six US-2s have been delivered to the Japanese Maritime Self Defence Force (JMSDF) for the search and rescue (SAR) mission. Of these, one was lost in April 2015 in an accident at sea.

New Delhi has expressed interest in the aircraft, but Shinmaywa says there is no official word about this apparent requirement, pegged at 12-18 aircraft.

The Indian deal would have seen some aircraft produced in India under New Delhi’s “Make In India” programme, but the company feels this is impractical given the small number of aircraft the deal is likely to involve.

Another possible customer for the type is Indonesia, with whom the Japanese government has had discussions.

Shinmaywa will deliver another US-2 in 2017, followed by an additional aircraft in 2018. Overall, they see the total Japanese naval market for the US-2 at seven units. This allows four aircraft to be ready for operations, while three are undergoing maintenance.

Given the low production rate for the type, the company does not have dedicated workers for the programme. Rather, they production workers in the companies aerostructures business pitch in with US-2 producton as and when needed.

There was an official investigation into the single US-2 lost, but Shinmaywa was not informed of the outcome. They were also not informed of any technical deficiencies with the aircraft. All 19 passengers and crew were safe.

Powered by four Rolls-Royce AE2100J engines, the US-2 has a maximum takeoff weight of 43t from both water and land.

The US-2 has a unique boundary layer control (BLC) system, driven by a Rolls-Royce CTS800 located inside the fuselage just aft of the wings. The BLC generates compressed air around the flaps and control surfaces. This improves performance of the wing, providing a landing speed of 55 knots and take-off at 80 knots in seas of up to 3m.

Apart from the SAR and transport missions, Shinmaywa has long promoted the type’s potential as a firefighting aircraft. The challenge is finding a sponsor to fund the development of this capability.

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