A German volte face over the European Future Large Aircraft (FLA) has allowed the partner nations to release the request for proposals (RFP), but has wrong-footed the UK, which only became aware of the change in Germany's position shortly before an FLA policy group meeting in Paris on 17 June.
Germany and the UK had held back releasing the RFP until a way of enabling French funding for the project had been found.
Now the Germans have shifted their position before the publication of an independent French Government report into Aerospatiale commercial funding, which is due shortly. Several options will be proposed in the report, including returning to the idea of a Government-funded project.
The UK, say sources close to the programme, will not be able to clarify its position on the project for at least four weeks. The UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) has yet to rejoin the project as a full partner, having withdrawn to take observer-only status in 1989.
A UK Government Strategic Defence Review is being carried out, and the UK MoD is also studying its heavy-lift requirement. The Airbus Military Company (AMC) estimates that the UK would require a total of 40 FLAs, but there are those within the Royal Air Force arguing for 25 aircraft only. The tanker/transport role would be met by a widebody turbofan-powered aircraft.
One possibility is that AMC would actually offer to buy back the RAF's 25 Lockheed Martin C-130Js as part of a deal to get to the 40-aircraft requirement
There are also indications that, at a political level, the UK may use the FLA as leverage with Germany over the latter's pending decision over the Eurofighter EF2000 programme. The German cabinet meets to discuss the fighter programme on 11 July.
The release of the RFP will allow AMC to begin the pre-launch activities on the FLA military transport. This will last for 11 months and will harden up the aircraft configuration, as well as determine the engine selection.
The release of the RFP will also see AMC formally established within Airbus Industrie to lead the programme.
Alain Flourens, president of AMC, says: "Over the next few weeks, we will agree with our partners and shareholders the final details of our organisation and prepare to commence work on the proposal."
The proposal, including a firm price, will be submitted to the partner nations. The go-ahead for the single-phase development and production of the FLA could be given in late 1998.
Source: Flight International
