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Home | Update | Latest Issue | Gallery | FR Profile | Datafiles | FR 2/97 "THE SERIES PRODUCTION OF TIGER IS SECURED" Interview with Eurocopter's Co-Chairman, Dr. Siegfried Sobotta, concerning the decision of the German-French defence and security council from December of 1996 for the Tiger and NH90 helicopter programs. FR: The agreement on poduction will supposedly be signed as soon as possible. What exactly does that mean? Sobotta: We hope that it will be signed within the next three months. A complete document has been on the tables of the ministries since the end of 1995. FR: However, since then, France has demanded further cost reductions of approximately ten percent. Sobotta: This has to be negotiated and can probably not be achieved without some cut-backs of the equipment. Since France has now confirmed the need for 215 Tigers, many of the other prerequisites remain unchanged. FR: The reduction of the production to just one final assembly line would certainly be helpful in cutting the costs. Sobotta: This would certainly be an option. Still, this would only generate a cost reduction of two percent since we have a single source production of the Tiger components anyway. FR: Would the only final assembly line be in Donauwörth? Sobotta: I think the politicians will have a word in this. Still, Jean-Yves Helmer (head of the French procurement agency DGA) has brought this solution into play himself.... FR: ... not without mentioning that the NH90 will then be final assembled in Marignane. Sobotta: There is still time to settle this question. France plans to introduce the major part of its 160 NH90s only after 2011. Also, if the politics allow, we will find an optimum solution within Eurocopter. From page 47 of FLUG REVUE 2/97 Home | Update | Latest Issue | Gallery | FR Profile | Datafiles | FR 2/97 Copyright 1997 by Motor-Presse Stuttgart. All rights reserved. Last updated January 10, 1997