Tim Ripley/DUBAI
Eurofighter Typhoon is still firmly in the running in the Greek and Norwegian fighter contests, according to leading executives of the four-nation consortium that produces the hi-tech combat aircraft.
Press reports that the Greeks had re-opened their fighter contest, after deciding last February to select the Eurofighter, were described as "mischief making" by Eurofighter GmbH executives, while reports that Norway had selected the Lockheed Martin F-16 Fighting Falcon were put down to a misreading of US Foreign Military Sales administrative procedures, which require clearances for sales to be requested before the customer makes decisions.
"It was just an administrative thing," says Mike Rudd, BAe's head of Eurofighter new business. "The Norwegian decision has not been made yet - we expect the contract to be finalised in early 2000."
Rudd says the company is "well placed" in the Norwegian contest and that Norwegian industry is showing a strong interesting in participating in the Eurofighter consortium.
"Greece has signalled and confirmed its commitment to join the Eurofighter programme, buying 60 to 90 aircraft," says Rudd. "We are in detailed discussions to determine the exact nature of partnership in the programme and the NATO Eurofighter Management Agency. We are confident we will progress to a successful conclusion very soon."
Hectic
Eurofighter has had a hectic year responding to request for information and requests for proposals from six countries.
The company is ready to respond to customers from the Middle East region, he says. "We perceive a need for an operational requirement in Saudi Arabia in the near term to replace its Boeing F-15C Eagle and Panavia Tornado Air Defence Variants. Eurofighter is the type of top-end capability appropriate for the Royal Saudi Air Force."
Source: Flight Daily News
