Germany's Euofighters look set to have the same defensive aids sub-systems as other production models
Germany is negotiating to rejoin the Marconi Electronic Systems-led consortium developing the defensive aids sub-system (DASS) for the Eurofighter. It raises a question mark over plans to build a lower-cost equivalent for the German air force.
Germany went its own way on less capable defensive aids for the Eurofighter several years ago, to cut the overall cost of Eurofighter 2000 and ward off domestic political pressure for the entire project to be axed.
DaimlerChrysler Aerospace (Dasa), which heads the German development effort, confirms it is "in discussions to rejoin the EuroDASS", but is awaiting clarification from the procurement agency on the requirements of the German armed forces.
The German defence ministry says: "The decision over which DASS the German Eurofighters will have has not been taken so far. The main factors are that we need the DASS to be workable and usable by 2005/2006, and it must be affordable and technically without any major risk. EuroDASS is one of the alternatives that would make a lot of sense," it adds.
The German-developed DASS would not be available until at least 2010. Dasa says it is "too early at the moment" to specify what level of workshare Germany would take in the EuroDASS.
Sources close to EuroDASS say Dasa has been talking to the partners separately over the issue for some months, and that collective talks are planned. The EuroDASS partners, which include Computing Devices, Elettronica of Italy and Indra of Spain, are willing to see Germany re-admitted to the project and are working to reach a solution on workshare, they add.
Source: Flight International