Eurofighter is preparing to submit a Typhoon bid to Norway in the first major international fighter competition since the United Arab Emirates elected to order the rival Lockheed Martin Block 60 F-16C/D.
The Norwegian decision is viewed as being of major importance, with several countries now drawing up similar fighter requirements. Singapore is understood to have issued a initial request for information (RFI) on the Typhoon, while the fighter is also being pitched to Brazil, Greece, Saudi Arabia and South Korea.
Oslo is expected to issue a request for proposals (RFP) in February next year to Eurofighter and Lockheed Martin for between 30 and 40 new fighters, with the latter offering the Block 50N F-16C/D. The two manufacturers will have until late May to respond, with a final decision expected by early 2000. Parallel proposals covering up to 100% industrial offsets are due to supplied by April.
The final number of fighters ordered will depend on the type selected, but could shrink to as few as 25 because of Norwegian fiscal austerity and low oil prices. The new fighter will replace 15 upgraded Northrop Grumman F-5A/Bs from 2004-5 and compensate for attrition losses from among the existing F-16 fleet. Norway now operates 58 Block 15 F-16A/Bs, around one-third of which have completed an avionics and radar mid-life upgrade.
Meanwile, Singapore has taken the first steps to initiate its own future fighter competition, say Republic of Singapore Air Force sources. It has now begun to receive detailed briefings on the Typhoon from British Aerospace, following similar moves by Dassault which have included several test flights of the Rafale. Lockheed Martin has also started talking with Singapore on a range of potential enhancements to the Block 50 F-16s which are now entering service.
Greece has an eventual need for up to 60 new fighters to replace McDonnell Douglas F-4s. Athens is considering dividing the planned purchase and ordering a smaller number of fighters by the year-end to supplement its 80 Block 30/50 F-16C/Ds.
Source: Flight International
