EUROFIGHTER AND Eurojet submitted critical pricing data to the NATO Eurofighter and Tornado Management Agency (NETMA) on the EF2000 at the end of March. It is intended to clear the way for a production investment decision by early 1997.
As well as being scrutinised by NETMA, the pricing data will also be closely examined by the four national defence ministries of Germany, Italy, Spain and the UK.
German sources close to the programme say that the aim is to have "agreed" costing in time for an Eurofighter board meeting scheduled for May. There is also likely to be a meeting of state secretaries from the four nations in the programme during the Berlin air show.
The aim is to have memorandum of understanding six, and the agreed figures, ready for submission to German Government defence and finance committees by June, with a full Bundestag debate likely in September.
Approval by the Bundestag in late October, or early November, would then clear the way for a production investment go-ahead by early 1997.
Source: Flight International