Finnish Army mini UAV. procurement programme

[TsrJoe]

http://www.flightglobal.com/articles/2010/12/01/350315/five-bidders-to-contest-finnish-uav-deal.html

Five bidders to contest Finnish UAV deal by Arie Egozi

Finland's defence ministry has issued a request for quotation to five bidders in a competition to select a mini unmanned air vehicle for the nation's army. The bidders responded to a request for information late last year and have demonstrated their systems in Finland.

In contention are the BlueBird SpyLite, EADS DRAC, Elbit Systems Skylark, Israel Aerospace Industries EyeView-650 and the Rafael-promoted Aeronautics Defense Systems Orbiter.

Finland plans to acquire 30-45 UAV systems that will include between 120 and 176 air vehicles, with the deal to have a value of around $25 million.

The bidders are due to submit their responses by the end of February 2011, with Helsinki expected to narrow its shortlist to two types for a final competitive stage next April.

[nebnoswal]

Stay away form I-View, they stuffed us (Aussies) arround for years, and didn't deliever anything.

[TsrJoe]

Bluebird Spylite ...

http://www.bluebird-uav.com/products_skyliteb.html

EADS. DRAC.

http://www.eads.com/eads/int/en/news/press.cdcc1c4a-1d77-4712-b6ce-7b71a5233e77.08af92a7-2c53-400a-8429-8b135733cbcc.html?queryStr=drac&pid=1

http://www.armyrecognition.com/2009_mois_news_actualites/paris_air_show_2009_le_bourget_online_show_daily_news_actualites_international_exhibition_trade_fai.html

Elbit Systems Skylark ...

http://62.0.44.103/elbitmain/area-in2.asp?parent=3&num=35&num2=35

IAI. EyeView 650 ...

http://www.iai.co.il/18892-en/BusinessAreas_UnmannedAirSystems.aspx

http://www.acig.org/artman/uploads/iview_001.jpg

Rafael/Aeronautics defence Systems Orbiter ...

http://www.aeronautics-sys.com/orbiter_mini_uav_muas

interesting that four of the five interested parties are Israeli in origin, altho the existing Maavoimat UAV. system is also from that part of the world too being the Israeli/Swiss Ranger UAV.

http://www.israeli-weapons.com/weapons/aircraft/uav/ranger/ranger.html

[GTX]

Stay away form I-View, they stuffed us (Aussies) arround for years, and didn't deliever anything.

Though that was just as much Boeing's and dare I say DMOs fault as IAI's... JP129, an example of how to stuff up what should have been a straightforward off-the-shelf purchase.

Regards,

Greg