The German Government has agreed on a proposed solution to long-running funding problems afflicting the Eurofighter EF2000 programme.
According to German press reports, half the money needed for production investment and the production phase of the programme could come as a special package of funding from the finance ministry, easing pressure on the cash-strapped defence ministry. Sources in Bonn say that this proposal still requires parliamentary approval.
German Eurofighter partner Daimler-Benz Aerospace wants DM390 million ($250 million) from the Government to fund the overdue production investment phase of the programme, while the defence ministry has so far been unable to offer more than DM100 million.
It is understood that industry financial requirements for the programme between 1998 and 2001 exceed the ministry's means by some DM2 billion. Production investment and manufacture of 180 aircraft for Germany are expected to cost some DM26 billion.
A German production-investment go-ahead is now expected by the end of March. The country hopes to begin replacing its McDonnell Douglas F-4F Phantom fighters with the EF2000 in 2002. The last of the 140 fighters will be delivered in 2012, and will be followed by a further 40 aircraft in an air-to-ground variant, replacing a part of Germany's Tornado fleet between 2012 and 2015.
Source: Flight International
