THE ROYAL AIR FORCE will be forced to operate three different standards of the Eurofighter 2000 combat aircraft as a result of technical delays and the rescheduling of the programme.
The RAF will begin to take delivery of the EF2000 by the end of 2000. The first aircraft to enter service will have the first of two interim capability fits, while the first full operational-capability aircraft will not be delivered until the end of 2002.
Concern over "three different standards of aircraft entering service", has been raised by the UK's National Audit Office's report into the four-nation (Germany, Italy, Spain and the UK) combat-aircraft programme.
The RAF is being forced to accept the differing aircraft primarily as a result of problems with the development of the EF2000's digital flight-control system. The full operational clearance of the software, is understood to have been delayed, following the problems on the programme.
It is likely that the two interim standards of aircraft delivered to the RAF will eventually be upgraded to the full operational standard.
The modifications will include upgrading the software to the full, operationally cleared code.
Source: Flight International
