A swath of Asia-Pacific states is in the throes of revamping their fighter inventories. As a result, Western and Russian manufacturers are either wrestling to sustain market share or vying with rival fighter builders in traditional client markets.

The fighter activity is but one element of broader defense procurement occurring across the region as militarily significant states recapitalize their inventories. Despite the impact of the global economic downturn, many markets are showing resilience. What's more, while growth rates have flattened in many cases, actual decline has been avoided. There is budget pressure, but this factor has been less than in other markets, industry officials suggest.

All of the region's top five military spenders either are introducing new fighter types into inventory or are in the midst of competitive procurement. Japan, South Korea and India are at varying stages of purchasing additional combat aircraft. Australia is introducing the Boeing F/A-18E/F into service -- and is committing to the Lockheed Martin F-35 Joint Strike Fighter -- while China is developing upgrades of both indigenous and Russian fighters, and also working on a twin-engine follow-on.

The Flanker family remains a key regional benchmark for fighter capability as the "threat" system against which potential purchases are to be measured. If the region grows more important for Western manufacturers seeking to bolster order books thinned from falling domestic production numbers (JSF aside), it is also critical to Moscow.

The latest, and possibly final, iteration of the Flanker, the Su-35S, is in no small part aimed at trying to sustain Russia's position as a combat aircraft provider in the region. Two of its traditional clients , China and India, are developing their own combat aircraft manufacturing capacity; India is also potentially expanding procurement from the West. The Su-35S will likely be pitched as a replacement for earlier Flanker models in the inventories of India, but whether it is proposed to China remains in doubt.

Japan is emerging as a new territory for U.S. and European fighter builders to push for sales. The nation has been aligned with the U.S. for combat aircraft procurements, but a government shift in Tokyo is providing Europe -- and Eurofighter in particular -- with reason to believe that buying from Washington is no longer a foregone conclusion. Industry officials involved in the Typhoon bid say there is an opportunity, although they are realistic in recognizing the challenge of breaking into what has until now been a captive U.S. market.

Japan is now expected to release what has been a frequently delayed request for proposals (RFP) for its F-4 replacement by the end of March. Tokyo has an aggressive schedule for the procurement because of F-4 obsolescence and budgetary planning windows. Bidders, including Boeing and Eurofighter, may have only a 90-day turnaround for their response.

Moreover, there is a growing industrial imperative, depending on the extent that Japan's government and military want to sustain the nation's involvement in the manufacture and support of combat aircraft. Production activity on the Mitsubishi F-2 is already beginning to wind down, and this will draw to a close during 2011.

In addition to Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, about 1,100 small and medium-size enterprises are part of Japan's fighter supply chain. This complex situation prompts Joe Song, Boeing's vice president for defense activities in the Asia-Pacific region, to note that addressing Japanese concerns will be important in pursuing the fighter prize.

Boeing currently has two options on the table for Tokyo -- the F/A-18E/F and an F-15 derivative. The RFP may allow the company to focus on one as its preferred candidates.

The F-35 also is a potential candidate for the F-X requirement, although time­scales are tight. But whether an F-35 acquisition would meet Japanese industry needs is an open question.

How much the RFP emphasizes the air superiority role, rather than a wider multirole capability, will color how the competitors pitch their bids and, potentially, Tokyo's preference.

In South Korea, another fighter purchase looms. Boeing won the two prior rounds with the F-15K (the last buy was uncontested). How large the so-called Next Fighter (NF) 3 buy will be is not yet set. A relatively small 20-unit purchase could see Boeing again face few contenders, although procurement numbers could climb to 60 aircraft, in which case a competitive acquisition is more likely.

South Korea has indicated it wants slightly more performance this time than previously. The NF 3 procurement is likely to call for improvements in survivability and lethality. An active, electronically scanned array radar is also a near-certain requirement. Boeing hopes to be able to interest Seoul in the lower radar cross section offered by the F-15SE Silent Eagle that is being developed using in-house funding.

However, India remains the biggest prize in the Asian market, and its fighter evaluation process is moving into the third phase with a long list of contestants.

Boeing and Lockheed Martin are the two U.S. contenders with the F/A-18E/F and the F-16IN, respectively. The Typhoon, Dassault Rafale, Saab Gripen NG and MiG-35 also are in contention.

U.S. bidders are optimistic that Washington's improving military relationship with New Delhi will help. India already is buying Boeing P-8I maritime patrol aircraft and is finalizing a foreign military sales deal for 10 C-17s. Nevertheless, if India wants to spread around its largesse in procuring defense equipment, these purchases could actually prove to be a counterweight to further U.S. acquisitions.

In addition, attack and transport helicopter projects are up for grabs, but the Indian air force's tanker program seems to be in disarray. Having ostensibly selected an Airbus A330-based approach, the competition is now being reopened.

The sometime fickle nature of Indian procurement may prove a challenge for U.S. companies that are unfamiliar with the often opaque nature of the process.

Farther down the road, the nation is looking to buy additional carrier-launched aircraft, although only requests for information have been released. Boeing, Eurofighter, Dassault, Lockheed Martin, MiG and Saab could emerge as contenders, should the procurement move ahead.

New Delhi has for decades been one of Moscow's two largest regional clients. The MiG-29 Fulcrum, the carrier-borne MiG-29K and the Su-30MKI provide a core element of India's airpower.

Moscow is eager to retain its position, while New Delhi is eager to exploit the leverage this provides. India is a launch partner on Russia's PAK FA fifth-generation fighter, with an Indian air force variant under discussion. The amount of genuine Indian participation, however, is unclear.

Pakistan, meanwhile, is beginning to take delivery of the Chengdu JF-17; the first aircraft to undergo final assembly locally was handed over in October 2009. Pakistan is the launch export customer for the type, and Beijing's success in supporting the aircraft will likely be monitored carefully by other countries (particularly in Africa) that may consider buying the aircraft. The Pakistani air force's experience with the JF-17 could also influence any decision on whether to acquire the Chengdu J-10.

As for Australia, it will witness a big fighter milestone this year, with the first delivery in March of an F/A-18F Super Hornet. The first flight of a Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) Super Hornet took place last year. The country is buying 24, perhaps more, if the F-35 JSF program slips.

The RAAF hopes to nurse its old F/A-18s along through upgrade and structural improvements until the F-35 is fielded. However, as with the U.S. Navy, a big delay in readying the F-35 could force a bridge-buy of additional F/A-18E/Fs. Malaysia is another prospect for additional Super Hornet sales as it begins to remove its Fulcrums from service.

Other countries, such as Vietnam and Indonesia, are drawing more attention, Song says. The latter is seen as a strong prospect for maritime patrol as well as for heavy-lift owing to the heavy demands for humanitarian assistance that are seen regularly.

Maritime patrol aircraft could be eyed by Australia, too, since operates a large fleet of P-3 Orions. Australian military officials are looking at buying around eight P-8s to augment their maritime patrol UAV fleet that is on the drawing board.

And Singapore remains a key market. Boeing is in talks with the government about upgrading and standardizing the CH-47 Chinook fleet to make it easier to sustain. In the meantime, the Chinook remains in contention for an Indian heavy-lift program. Bids were submitted for up to 15 helicopters in October 2009.

To complement the overhaul of front-line fighter fleets, nations in the region are investing in advanced jet trainers. Singapore has yet to decide between the Korea Aerospace Industries T-50 and the Alenia Aermacchi M-346. India, meanwhile, is pondering what it will do regarding a follow-on batch of trainers; it ordered 66 BAE Systems Hawk 132s in 2004. New Delhi is still competing the requirement for up to 57 more aircraft, with 17 earmarked for the carrier trainer role.

The procurement had been intended to be noncompetitive and an order placed directly with Hindustan Aeronautics. But tensions over a failure to meet delivery schedules for the original Hawk 132s led to the procurement being opened to competition -- notionally at least.

Credit: Sukhoi