1st C-295 aircraft to be delivered within 18 months

From the Philippine News Agency (Jan 21): 1st C-295 aircraft to be delivered within 18 months

Should EADS/CASA-Airbus Military pass the post qualification stage set by the Department of National Defense (DND) for its P5.3 billion medium lift fixed wing project, the first of three C-295 aircraft will be delivered within 18 months upon the opening of the letter of credit.

This will begin by Feb. 1 when members of the technical working group have arrived in Spain, DND undersecretary Fernando Manalo said.

Upon delivery of the first aircraft, the second plane will be delivered after four months and the third after another four months.

EADS/CASA-Airbus Military was declared the only eligible bidder for the DND's medium lift fixed-wing aircraft after competitor PT Dirgantara Indonesia was declared out of the running for its failure to meet the requirements of the DND.

The DND Special Bids and Awards Committee-1 (SBAC-1) said PT Dirgantara’s plane, the C-235, was not compliant with the technical specifications provided by the bid documents.

It added that the Indonesian manufacturer's plane could only carry 34 paratroopers, lower than the 40 set by the DND.

The bid documents also required that the aircraft can carry 11,000 pounds at 950 nautical miles but PT Dirgantara’s plane can only carry 10,120 pounds.

The Spanish aircraft manufacturer offered to supply three C-295 aircraft for P5.29 billion or slightly lower then the P5.3 billion contract price set by the DND.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=1&sid=&nid=1&rid=607663