Stewart Penney/LONDON
Budget concerns and supportability issues have forced the UK Royal Air Force to remove the internal cannon from its Eurofighters.
The decision comes at a time when the UK Government is facing criticism over technical problems with military equipment and budget cuts, while the armed forces are facing increased operational deployment demands. The UK's defence budget is set to fall 4.8% between 1998/9 and 2001/2.
The Ministry of Defence says a study into "the value and utility" of the 27mm Mauser cannon means the inclusion of a gun is "questionable". It adds that warfare in the 21st century - typically peace support and limited conflicts such as those over the former Yugoslavia - reduces the requirement for a gun.
The first 55 aircraft have been ordered and will be delivered with the cannon. Later aircraft are likely to be specified with no internal armament. A senior MoD source says the gun's value has been assessed at three-star level as minimal and insufficient to justify its cost. The source adds that Eurofighter will be equipped with 10 air-to-air missiles, while its short-range weapon, Matra BAe Dynamics' ASRAAM, has a "better minimum range capability" than its Raytheon AIM-9L Sidewinder predecessor. For ground attack, rules of engagement often preclude the cannon's use.
The source adds that as well as removing the need to service the weapon, other maintenance issues have been considered, including the gun's recoil effect on avionics and damage caused by corrosive gases generated when firing the cannon.
The MoD says the measure will save £19 million ($30 million) over the first 10 years of service as well as £3.5 million a year for every year of the Eurofighter's life.
A continuing support-costs study seeks to determine the most cost-effective way of maintaining Eurofighter once it enters service. Under consideration are full industrial support, full RAF support or a combination of the two.
Source: Flight International
