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Home | Update | LATEST ISSUE | Gallery | FR Profile | Datafiles | FR 8/98 EUROFIGHTER STARTS EF2000 EXPORT OFFENSIVE by Karl Schwarz Since the future of the program has been secured, the Eurofighter team is bursting with confidence. A contributory factor is, that "the world's most powerful multi-role fighter", (according to the firm's press statement at least), four years after its first flight can finally perform considerably better than the F-16 Fighting Falcon on the airshow circuit. During the ILA in Berlin DasaÕs Chris Worning and John Turner from British Aerospace really impressed everyone with high climbs and especially tight curves. A week later Worning was able to demonstrate his program on the military airfield Rygge near Oslo, where the EF2000 was being introduced for the first time outside the four partner nations to a potential export customer. As well as flight demonstrations, which took place between June 2 and 5, examinations on the ground were also on the program. Amongst other things, it was checked whether the aircraft fitted into the shelter and whether existing ground handling devices could be used to arm the fighter. The spectrum of interested bodies, who received detailed information about the Eurofighter was very wide. It reached from the chief of staff of the Royal Norwegian Air Force down to the common soldier. VIPs and politicians were also amongst them. Demonstrations and briefings are all part of the competition, in which the Eurofighter has to confront the Lockheed Martin F-16 "Block 50N". An official invitation for offers is expected to be placed in spring 1999 with the view of decisions towards the end of the year. 30 to 40 aircraft will probably be acquired to replace the antiquated F-5s. Allegedly almost 3.5 billion DM have been put aside for this. As well as the price some attractive offset offers will play a decisive role. Norway, where Dasa has the lead role in the marketing of the Eurofighter, is the best export opportunity at the moment. However, the sales prospects are much bigger if we can believe the manufacturer's predictions. According to Sales Support Group Director Andy Lewis there will globally be an accessible market for between 800 and 1,200 new fighters within the next ten to 20 years. Eurofighter wants to supply at least a third or even half of these. Negotiations are actively going on with Brazil, Australia, Singapore, South Korea and Greece. At home Eurofighter managers are currently occupied with working out "supplement 2" to the framework contract for the production of the aircraft. It contains details on production of 148 planes at a fixed price. Once the necessary criteria can be proven, and there are no stumbling blocks during the negotiations, the contract will be signed in the autumn. There also still is a lot to be done in the plane's development. 70 per cent of the flight control software has been developed, however, is has not completed all the relevant tests during flight. Especially the auto pilot still needs a lot of refinement. From page 50 of FLUG REVUE 8/98 Home | Update | LATEST ISSUE | Gallery | FR Profile | Datafiles | FR 8/98 Copyright 1998 by Motor-Presse Stuttgart. All rights reserved. Last updated July 13, 1998 FLUG REVUE, Ubierstr. 83, 53173 Bonn, Germany