DASA continues to develop upgrade alliance with MAPO

Published: 8/26/1999

At the MAKS-99 airshow, DASA announced a further extension of its long standing agreement, called the MiG Aircraft Product Support Group, with MAPO and Rosvoorhuzenie. This follows an earlier announcement, at Le Bourget, in July, of an extension to the agreement which was originally signed in 1993 (www.concise.org 2/7/99). Now DASA wants take the agreement even further, and to lend its support for the adoption of the MiG-29 by the Austrian Air Force, in its current fighter tender due to be completed by 2001. The agreement focuses on the provision of modules offering upgrades in communications, identification and navigation systems for the aircraft of the Polish and Hungarian Air Forces, in order to meet NATO/ICAO standards. The German-registered MAPS joint venture, which is based at DASA's plant in Mansing, considers that there is also considerable opportunity elsewhere, given that Polish and Hungarian programmes requirements are similar to those of “ the air forces of Slovakia, Romania and Bulgaria”. According to DASA, the proposed solutions will provide the “ minimum requirement or consist of more sophisticated upgrades, thus guaranteeing MiG-29 operations under NATO conditions at least until 2015.” Using its experience of converting exGDR MiG-29 to NATO standards and working closely with the other members of MAPS, DASA and the German Government are trying to persuade the countries of the Eastern and Central Europe that upgrading MiG-29s is the most cost effective option available. They have even commissioned a German research institute, IABG, to conduct a study, the results of which have recently been sent to the governments of the region. As part of its marketing push for the upgrade business, DASA and the Hungarian company, Dunai Repulogyar (DR), have recently signed an additional agreement about future cooperation relating to aircraft upgrades (www.concise.org 26/4/99). The companies intend to pitch jointly for the servicing and possible modernisation of the MiG-29s of the Hungarian Air Force. How the job will be shared between the two companies has yet to be agreed, but it seem likely that the work will be carried out by Torokbalint facility of DR, south of Budapest. The work will primarily involve upgrading the aircraft to NATO standards in communications and in friend or foe equipment. According to DASA, the Hungarian programme will involve the MAPS partners. This suggests that all parties my have found an amicable agreement to the Hungary's disagreement with MAPO in April 1999, regarding the provision of support for the MiG-29s in service. Private investors hold 99.96% of Dunai Repulogyar Rt., with the Ministry of Defence holding the remaining 0.04%. The 5 main shareholders own 53% of DR. The company has 90% stakes in three companies, which are involved in machine production, IT and plastic production. DR also owns Pestvideki Gepgyar Kft., which runs the industrial park in Tokol airport.

Article ID: 794