Tim Ripley
Eurofighter chiefs have played down a last minute hitch in negotiations over the first batch of 148 production EF2000s.
"In next few weeks we will sign fixed price contracts for first production batch of 148 aircraft [for Germany, Italy, Spain and the UK]," declares Eurofighter
managing director Brian Phillipson.
He dismisses press reports that the contract was to be signed at Farnborough '98. "We do not run the [Eurofighter] programme by air shows - there is not a
problem. We expect to finalise the contract very soon."
The delay is reportedly due to UK Ministry of Defence concerns about funding logistic support. "The UK is keen to ensure the aircraft is adequately supported
when it enters service," says Phillipson. "There may be benefits to a common, gradual approach. It is positive that we are having the debates now. It will not stop the
signing of the contract."
Campaign
Mike Rouse, British Aerospace's group managing director for military aircraft, says Eurofighter's Typhoon export campaign was now in high gear. "Norway is our
most active campaign at the moment," says Rouse. "It is the most important because it is a NATO country."
There were still opportunities in Australia for the Typhoon in spite of the country's recent decision to upgrade rather than replace its Boeing F/A-18 Hornet fleet,
says Rouse. Australia's decision over the replacement of its General Dynamics F-111 fleet will be crucial if the Typhoon is to win orders Down Under.
"The United Arab Emirates wanted the Lockheed Martin F-16 Fighting Falcon in a timeframe we couldn't match," says Rouse. "We never put in a formal
proposition. The UAE's next buy of new aircraft will interest us. We still view the UAE as a long term prospect.
"We estimate a market for 800 to 1,000 fighter aircraft up to 2025," says Rouse. "Exporting 400 Typhoons is not unreasonable.
"There is no direct competitor. The F-16 is getting long in the tooth. The Lockheed Martin F-22 Raptor is not available in the same timeframe [as Typhoon], it is
expensive and not releasable [for export] in its current form.
"We've got a good window of opportunity to maximise the Typhoon's potential."
Eurofighter chairman Filippo Bagnato says: "In key areas the aircraft distinguishes itself from anything else in the air because of industrial participation, customer
confidence, air dominance, supportability, affordability, growth potential and export potential.
"Europe is now truly competitive with the Airbus family and with Typhoon. Europe is a winner on the global stage for 21st Century."
Source: Flight Daily News
