The German cabinet has finally cleared procurement documentation for the Eurofighter EF2000, confirming its intention to buy a total of 180 aircraft for the air force.

The decision, repeatedly delayed since late 1996, finally came on 8 October. The matter has now been passed on to the parliamentary defence and budget committees, and the final vote should take place in parliament in about mid-November, according to German industrial partner Daimler-Benz Aerospace (Dasa).

The German ministry of defence confirms that it is hoping for signature of the production memorandum of understanding on 12 December, but it points out that "-this depends on how long the committees spend with the documentation".

While the German question now appears to be resolved, the instability of the Italian Government is casting a shadow over the project. Italy has been following Germany's decision-making process before firming up its own financial commitment to the EF2000 programme and, although the Government has put funds aside for the programme, no money has been confirmed in the country's 1998 budget.

The EF2000 programme has numerous opponents in the German parliament, with the cabinet go-ahead being condemned by the Green Party as "one of the most catastrophic and costly decisions of the Kohl government". Rudolf Scharping, head of the opposition Social Democratic (SPD) faction, says that the SPD will oppose the programme.

Scharping believes that the project is no longer justified, given the changes in the European political landscape over the last decade.

It is widely believed, however, that the SPD will be sharply divided on the issue, with many representatives choosing to vote in favour, to safeguard industry and employment in their regions ahead of the 1998 general elections. Dasa claims that Germany's 30% production share in the programme will secure 18,000 domestic jobs.

At a planned cost of DM23 billion ($13.5 billion) up to 2014, the EF2000 is the most expensive defence programme in German history. Many believe that this target will be overshot, with the Federal Audit Office claiming a cost of DM30-33 billion.

The programme has been hit by repeated cuts in the German defence budget as Germany struggles to meet the Maastricht criteria for European monetary union.

Source: Flight International