Armoredd.com

14 May 2009

Air Force Technology

The UK has confirmed that it will move ahead with the purchase of a third batch of Eurofighter Typhoon aircraft for the Royal Air Force.

The Typhoon is an extremely agile multirole combat aircraft, capable of being deployed across many air operations, including air policing, peace support and high intensity conflict.

Prime Minister Gordon Brown said that the UK was pleased to be moving forward this important programme with partner nations.

“This programme will strengthen Britain’s defence capability, and will create new jobs,” said Brown.

The MoD will now initial the ministerial agreement which partner nations Germany, Italy and Spain signed on 2 April 2009.

This agreement contains a statement of principles agreed with the Nato Eurofighter Tornado Management Agency (NETMA), which governs both procurement and support costs.

UK Defence Secretary John Hutton said that the department was now looking to receive an affordable bid form European industry to allow the programme to proceed.

“Subject to the satisfactory outcome of these negotiations, I hope that we will be in a position to sign a contract later this year,” Hutton said.

The contract for the third tranche of Typhoon aircraft will be signed once each partner nation’s approving authority has accepted the terms of agreement.

4/17/2009
Alenia Aeronautica

Alenia Aeronautica records with great satisfaction another important result reached by the Eurofighter programme in Italy: the Air Force’s pilots have surpassed 10,000 flight hours on the Eurofighter Typhoon, the new-generation defence aircraft in service with two squadrons in Italy.

The aircraft, that operates in Italy from Grosseto and Gioia del Colle air bases, has started being employed
three years ago in missions of air police and quick-reaction alert for the airspace control, having inaugurated such operations during the 2006 Winter Olympic Games.

Since that date four other air forces have joined ItAF and the Typhoon fleet in service in Italy, Germany, United Kingdom, Spain and Austria have by now surpassed the total of 50,000 flight hours. By the end of the year also the first Typhoons for the Saudi Arabian Air Force, first Eurofighter’s non-European customer, will be delivered.

With the Typhoons for the four other programme partner nations (Germany, Italy, United Kingdom and Spain), plus the 15 ordered by Austria and the 72 by Saudi Arabia, the Eurofighter programme may well be considered the best ever international technological and industrial success in the field of new-generation defence aircraft.

While the first production-batch aircraft (148, of which 28 for Italy, all delivered) are still undergoing the updating for the basic development’s final standard envisaged for this version, the first standard aircraft of the second production batch (46 planned for Italy) have entered into service; and the Italian Air Force stands out for its being the air force having accumulated more flight hours of the second production-batch aircraft, proving a successful management of the introduction of a new operational and technological standard in the fleet.

The Eurofighter Typhoon is a milestone for the Italian aeronautical industry that with a share of 19% of the
programme provides long-term job for 24,000 resources within some 200 companies, and in particular for the Finmeccanica companies, which play an important role with their 36% of industrial participation, in the definition, design, development and production of the new aircraft, the European industry’s technological frontier.

Definition, design, development and production of the Eurofighter, participation all over Europe in over 400
companies and the work of 100,000 people make it the main industrial collaboration programme in the history of the old Continent.

24 April 2009

Air Force Technology

German Chancellor Angela Merkel has intervened to try to persuade Gordon Brown to lift UK opposition to a roughly $10bn deal to build Eurofighter combat jets, European defence sources said on Friday.

Merkel telephoned the British Prime Minister this week after negotiations to order a total of 112 jets between four nations broke down over last-minute opposition from the UK treasury, they told Reuters.

Arms manufacturers from the four nations involved in the Eurofighter - Britain, Germany, Italy and Spain - had been confident of signing a final deal next week after months of negotiations in the face of severe budget pressure caused by the global economic crisis.

But Britain’s finance ministry has vetoed a deal that would have seen Britain initially order 16 Eurofighters worth some $1.6bn - money its defence ministry does not have immediately available, the sources said.

Without British support for its own share, the wider agreement on the next phase of Eurofighter production cannot easily go ahead.

A spokesman for Brown confirmed that Merkel and Brown had spoken this week and described it as “one of their regular catch-up calls. It would have covered a range of issues.”

Asked if Eurofighter was discussed, he said; “It could have included discussions on Eurofighter, then again it might not have done”.

In Berlin, the government declined to comment on discussions between leaders, but a German government official said; “Germany has stressed to Britain on various levels the importance of the Eurofighter project and the need to stick to the commitments of the international consortium”.

By Tim Hepher, Noah Barkin and Luke Baker; editing by Marcel Michelson.

Published: April 1, 2009 at 11:23 AM

MORON AIR BASE, Spain, April 1 (UPI) — The EADS CASA and BAE Systems defense-contractor development team announced a successful test firing of a missile from the Typhoon aircraft in Spain.

The British and Spanish testing centers of the EADS CASA and BAE Systems team, with guidance support from Eurofighter GmbH, completed a successful test firing of an advanced medium-range air-to-air missile using the Eurofighter Typhoon fighter aircraft IPA4 and IPA5 variants.

The test, which took place at Moron Air Base in southern Spain, was designed to measure the ability of a Typhoon firing an AMRAAM missile with radar systems in passive mode and target data for the missile “acquired by the radar of a second Eurofighter Typhoon,” according to a news release.

Officials said the successful test, which marked the first trial of its kind, measured the Typhoon’s capabilities against low observable aircraft threats.

© 2009 United Press International, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

10 March 2009

domain-b.com

Berlin: Germany on Monday denied newspaper reports that it wanted to cut back its order for a final batch of Eurofighter jets. The report, carried by German business daily Handelsblatt, reported Monday that Germany wanted to halve the size of its order for a third tranche of the aircraft.

“There isn’t any talk about halving the third tranche,” a Defence Ministry spokesman told a regular government news conference, adding: “For operational reasons, Germany still requires 180 Eurofighters.”

Under the original plan, Germany, Italy, Spain and Britain would have received the third batch of 236 aircraft between 2012 and 2017.

Of the 236 fighters, 68 were intended for Germany.

However, the spokesman said the countries participating in the Eurofighter project, Germany, Spain, Britain and Italy, were discussing splitting the third tranche into two parts. These talks are likely to be held Thursday.

Tight budgets resulting from the financial crisis are responsible for second thoughts on the order, atleast for Germany. The UK has already been trying hard to wriggle out of its commitments for long, even as it tries to provide budgetary and military space for the American JSF-35.

In 1997, Germany ordered 180 Eurofighter planes, which reports suggest is likely to cost the German defence budget some 25 billion Euros.

Germany’s Social Democrat Party, junior partner in the governing coalition, has always been sharply critical of the Eurofighter programme and has advocated a cut in the programme for both financial and military reasons.

The spokesman didn’t say where Thursday’s talks would take place.

The Eurofighter consortium includes Britain’s BAE Systems BA.L, Airbus parent EADS (EAD.PA)

Hemanth CS
First Published : 31 Jan 2009 10:44:00 AM IST
Express Buzz

BANGALORE: Brace yourselves for the ‘Luftwaffe’, which dominated the skies over Europe with their tactical fighters during World War- II, and will soon be seen over the city skies. But this time they will not be unleashing their blitzkrieg doctrine which they resorted to during the War and instead will be indulging in different tactics to woo the audience at the Aero India 2009 and also create an lasting impression on the Indian Air Force (IAF).

Four Eurofighter Typhoon aircraft belonging to the German Air Force will arrive at the Air Force Station, Yelahanka on February 5 to take part in the bi-annual show. The Eurofighter Typhoon, which will be making it’s debut in India, is among the six contenders that are lobbying to bag the contract for the 126 multi-role combat aircraft from the IAF. Officials from European Aeronautic Defence and Space Company(EADS), which is the major partner in the Eurofighter consortium, told Expresso that the four aircraft belonging to the German Air Force will take part in the airshow. “A total of four Eurofighter Typhoons will be seen at Aero India for the first time. The aircraft which comprises both the two and four seat variants, will also be taking part in the flight displays,” said an official.

This is the f irst time the German Air Force is sending it’s fighters outside Europe since the World War-II. Post war, the German Air Force has been largely confined to self defence.

“The decision to fly it’s aircraft to India is seen as a step where the Germans want to open up. This is seen as an exposure for a long range deployment and future NATO assignments in Afghanistan,” said defence sources. The German Air Force is also toying with the idea of having a guest to co-pilot the Eurofighter Typhoon which is considered to be a highly agile air superiority and air-to-surface, multir o l e / sw i n g - r o l e weapon system, making it the most capable front line fighter available.

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Related Article:
German Air Force successfully deployed to AERO INDIA 2009

05/02/2009

Eurofighter Typhoon

EUROFIGHTER and tanker aircraft landed at Yelahanka Air Force Station today

German Air Force delegation safely landed at Air Force Station of Yelahanka, near Bangalore/India, at 1340 h CET, today. After a stop-over at Abu Dhabi Air Force Base, United Arab Emirates, three EUROFIGHTER, Germany’s most advanced fighter aircraft, along with an Airbus A310 MRTT (Multi Role Transport Tanker) successfully completed their first-time deployment to an Asian country to participate in the bi-annual air show.

After start-off at their home-bases in Germany on 4 February, 2009, all fighter airplanes were refuelled by Germany’s new tanker aircraft, A310 MRTT. This was the first time, A-310 MRTT air-to-air refuelling was conducted during an operational deployment marking another important milestone in its introduction phase.

German Air Force is scheduled to participate in AERO INDIA 2009 with EUROFIGHTER (30+23, 30+25, 30+38), of which one will provide a daily flying display, and Airbus A310 MRTT (10+27) from 11 through 15 February, 2009.

After conclusion of the air show, the German aircraft will be re-deploying to their respective home-bases by 16 February, 2009.

Hartmut Beilmann
Oberstleutnant, Dezernatsleiter, Sprecher
Lt Col / Chief Media Operations / Spokesman
hartmutbeilmann@bundeswehr.org
Telefon: +49 - (0)2203 / 908 - 2333
Fax: +49 - (0)2203 / 908 - 2010
FspNBw: 3451 - 2333

Luftwaffenamt
Abteilung Presse- und Informationszentrum Luftwaffe,
Dezernat b “Presse”
Luftwaffenkaserne WAHN 5 01/16
Postfach 90 61 10
51127 Köln

Eurofighter GmgH | Jan 16, 2009
Defence Talk

Whilst 2008 saw the start of Tranche 2 deliveries to nations - 16 aircraft delivered in total -, 2009 started with GS032 (Germany) delivered on Monday the 12th January and BS043 (UK) handed over today.

Just to summarize, the first aircraft delivered to the nations were:
BS040 (UK) on 10 October 2008 followed by SS012 (Spain) on 24 October and IS020 (Italy) on 13 November. The first Tranche 2 aircraft for the German Air Force was AS008, handed over on 18 December 2008. With revision of the Austrian contract, nine Tranche 2 aircraft originally planned for Austria will go to Germany and keep their designation, as the German aircraft in service with the Austrian armed forces.

At this point we think a brief explanation is appropriate, what delivery or handover for us on the industrial side in the Eurofighter consortium really means. After a thorough and detailed check procedure for each individual aircraft a special form is signed by the partner company delivering the aircraft and the air force taking it. With this signature the air force takes ownership of the aircraft. This for us means handover or delivery.

There can be discrepancies in dates, when an air force sets up a handover/delivery event or flies the aircraft out of the industrial facility at a later time and these dates then are being communicated or looked at as the actual handover dates.

Nevertheless, we at PR & Comms in Eurofighter and the Partner Companies actually do rather care about the fact as such: Another aircraft delivered!!! So have a good new year 2009 and let’s continue counting…

News
Eurofighter Typhoon

18 November 2008

Important step for the Eurofighter Typhoon, the main European industrial collaborative programme. Alenia Aeronautica, a Finmeccanica company, has officially delivered the first Tranche 2 Eurofighter Typhoon to the Italian Air Force.

The aircraft - IS020 – was flown to Grosseto by Maj. Marco Bertoli, deputy-commander of the IX group of the 4th Wing of ItAF, is the first of a series of 47 enhanced standard fighters which will be delivered to the Italian Air Force until 2013, as layied out in the contract signed in 2004 by the Eurofighter consortium with the four-nation agency NETMA.

The Eurofighter consortium, through its partner industries (Alenia Aeronautica, BAE Systems, EADS CASA and EADS Deutschland), will produce and deliver, in the next 5 years, a total of 323 Tranche 2 Typhoons (including 72 aircraft for Saudi Arabia) to be added to the Tranche 1 Typhoons already delivered.

The Typhoon is today the most advanced defence aircraft available on the market and Tranche 2 aircraft, as compared to previous standard, offer the aircraft, in addition to some structural changes, an enhanced software capacity and a substantial growth capability to enable future developments.

“Delivery of the first Tranche 2 Eurofighter Typhoon – said Col. Carlo Uberti, Director of the Ufficio Tecnico Territoriale Aeromobili of the Direzione Generale Armamenti Aeronautici – represents for the Italian Air Force a further meaningful step forward since it allows it to use new operational capabilities placing it in the vanguard within NATO. The Typhoon permits to accomplish always at best and with the best results our Nation’s air defence tasks”.

“This important result that rewards the efforts of Alenia, of the other Finmeccanica companies involved and of our consortium partners – said Giancarlo Anselmino, Senior Vice President, responsible for Alenia Aeronautica’s Defence Aircraft Business Unit – represents a fundamental milestone for the programme. The Tranche 2 is the reference platform for future aircraft development, like Tranche 3, which is under negotiation, and offers better export opportunity on the international market”.

With 620 Typhoons under contract for the programme’s four partner nations (Germany, Italy, United Kingdom and Spain), plus the 15 ordered by Austria and the 72 for Saudi Arabia, the Eurofighter programme can be considered the market leader in the new generation defence aircraft arena.

For more information contact
Wolfdietrich Hoeveler
Vice President Communication
Eurofighter GmbH
+49 811 801 555 (Office)
+49 811 801 557 (Fax)
+49 172 832 9751 (Mobile)
wolfdietrich.hoeveler@eurofighter.com

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Related Article:
Eurofighter Tranche 2 Aircraft deliveries to Partner Nations Begins

Posted on: Oct. 10th, 2008
Air Attack

The handover of BS040 to the Royal Air Force today marks the beginning of Tranche 2 aircraft deliveries to the four partner air forces. The other three air forces will start receiving their aircraft in near term.

Tranche 2 consists of 251 aircraft for the air forces of Germany, Italy, Spain and the United Kingdom plus 72 aircraft for the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Germany will receive 79 aircraft, Italy a total of 47, Spain will take 34 aircraft and the United Kingdom shall receive 91 Eurofighter Typhoon in Tranche 2.

Eurofighter Typhoon is the world’s most advanced new generation multi-role/swing-role combat aircraft available on the market and has been ordered by six nations (Germany, Italy, Spain, United Kingdom, Austria and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia). With 707 aircraft under contract, it is Europe’s largest military collaborative programme and delivers leading-edge technology, strengthening Europe’s aerospace industry in the global competition. More than 100,000 jobs in 400 companies are secured by the programme.

Eurofighter Jagdflugzeug GmbH manages the programme on behalf of the Eurofighter Partner Companies Alenia Finmeccanica, BAE Systems, EADS CASA and EADS Deutschland, Europe’s foremost aerospace companies with a total turnover of €60.7 billion (2006).