U.S. and European aerospace manufacturers are looking to tap into the South American military market this week as exhibitors at the Fidae 2016 International Air & Space Fair outside of Santiago, Chile. The biennial event attracted 604 exhibitors and 45,000 trade visitors during its previous run in 2014.
Sweden’s Saab is featuring a full-scale mock-up of its new Gripen E multi-role fighter, which the manufacturer plans to roll out from its Linkoping facility in May. Having won Brazil’s fighter competition in December 2013, calling for the delivery of 36 Gripen E/Fs beginning in 2019, Saab hopes to expand its footprint in the region.
“This year Fidae is the major exhibition for the aerospace and defense industry in Latin America and an event of great strategic importance for Saab,” the manufacturer said. “The region is a dynamic market where Saab sees great opportunities across all of its domains.”
Airbus Defense & Space, Boeing, Finmeccanica, General Atomics, Lockheed Martin, Lockheed/Sikorsky Aircraft and Bell Helicopter are among other exhibitors at the event, which runs through April 3.
Regional aerospace manufacturer Embraer will perform final assembly of some of the Brazilian Gripens, but, notably, its own new KC-390 transport is absent from Fidae. However, Embraer announced that it has selected Rheinmetall Defense Electronics Simulation and Training of Germany to provide training devices for the aircraft, which is currently in the flight-test phase. Chile, Argentina and Colombia have been named as KC-390 partners, along with Brazil, Czech Republic and Portugal.
Making its first Fidae appearance is the Textron AirLand Scorpion light attack and surveillance jet, unveiled in the U.S. in September 2013 and still in search of a launch customer. Textron Systems is featuring the catapult-launched Aerosonde small unmanned aircraft system, as well as its G-CLAW and Fury precision-guided munitions.
Exhibitor Universal Avionics, of Tucson, Ariz., said the first of three CASA CN-235-100 twin-engine transports upgraded with Universal avionics has been delivered to the Chilean army. Installed by LB Aircraft Engineering in conjunction with Avenpa of Chile, the flight deck upgrade replaces obsolete 1980s avionics with four large primary flight and navigation displays that address current and future requirements. The two remaining aircraft will be delivered this year, Universal said.
On March 27, two U.S. Air Force F-22 Raptor fighters and a KC-10 Extender refueling tanker touched down at the show venue—Santiago’s Arturo Merino Benitez Airport—where Fidae CEO Fernando Silva “welcomed them warmly,” according to the organizers. The fifth-generation Lockheed Martin fighter is making its second appearance at Fidae, having visited the event in 2010, and is scheduled to participate in the flight demonstrations.
Other aircraft scheduled to participate in the flight program include Chilean air force F-16 and Northrop F-5 Tiger fighters, an Embraer A-29 Super Tucano light attack turboprop, a T-35 Pillan piston-engine basic training aircraft, and a UH-1H Iroquois helicopter; Chilean navy HH-65 Dauphin and HH-35 Cougar helicopters; and Peruvian air force C27J Spartan transports and KT-1P Torito turboprop trainer. Also slated to perform was the Chilean air force Halcones (Falcons) aerobatic team, which flies the Extra 300L monoplane.
