SHAH ALAM: Airbus has a signed a contract to deliver 38 new Eurofighter aircraft to the German Air Force. This makes Germany the largest ordering nation in Europe’s biggest defence programme. The order, also known by its project name Quadriga, covers the delivery of 30 single-seater and 8 twin-seater Eurofighters. Three of the aircraft will be equipped with additional test installations as Instrumented Test Aircraft for the further development of the Eurofighter programme.
Dirk Hoke, CEO Airbus Defence and Space, said: “The new Tranche 4 Eurofighter is currently the most modern European-built combat aircraft with a service life well beyond 2060. Its technical capabilities will allow full integration into the European Future Combat Air System FCAS”.
The renewed order from Germany secures production until 2030 and comes at a strategically important time for the programme. In addition to an expected Eurofighter order from Spain to replace its legacy F-18s, procurement decisions in Switzerland and Finland are imminent in 2021.
The variant offered in Switzerland corresponds to the configuration of the German Quadriga order. The equipment includes the world’s latest electronic radar, future-proof hardware and software and unlimited multi-role capability for engaging air and ground targets.
Eurofighter is Europe’s largest defence programme, in which the United Kingdom, Spain and Italy are involved alongside Germany. In addition to technological capabilities, it secures more than 100,000 jobs in Europe.
— Malaysian Defence
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Why is there no open tender for this large contract? This cannot happen in a country as democratic as Germany! Where is the German Auditor General?
*sarcasm*
Additional info for this contract
1) This is to be the 1st phase of the larger overall buy of 93 Typhoons and 45 Super Hornets/Growlers. The Quadriga 38 units is especially for the replacement of Tranche 1 Typhoons, which is to be retired. Should be of interest of Indonesia should it buy the Austrian Tranche 1 Typhoons.
2) The other 55 Typhoons and 45 Super Hornets/Growlers is to replace the Panavia Tornados. This is to be approved next year after the German federal elections. The 30 Super Hornets and 15 Growlers are for the replacement of the Tornado IDS nuclear delivery capability of the B61 nuclear gravity bomb, and the electronic attack capability of the Tornado ECR respectively.
3) The 38 Typhoon Tranche 4 are of 30 single and 8 dual seaters. 4 of them to be wired as fully instrumented aircraft for weapons R&D.
4) Total cost of the 38 Typhoon Tranche 4 Quadriga buy is €5.4 billion or USD6.35 billion.
They should have bought F-35s instead of Hornets.
Meanwhile, Saudi cleared to buy F-35s.
Meanwhile UK, France and Germany goes their separate ways on 5th Gen fighter development. Ironic.
BTW did I hear someone said C.G. Haenel MK556?
@ chua
" Meanwhile, Saudi cleared to buy F-35s "
Saudi? Not heard of that. So far only official approval was for UAE
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What MK556? National interest is too strong...
http://www.gunsweek.com/en/rifles/news/haenel-mk-556-order-canceled-german-ministry-defense
Up to them to decides, got fund, industry, influences and anything... How about us?
National interest? That's funny when both are German? More like personal interest when a small player beat the juggernaut H&K in a fair and open tender process. The lobbyist from H&K is too strong...
" How about us? "
If we listen to those who live in alternate reality dreamland, we should also get Typhoons or do our own PTM 6.
Realistically?
I would prefer to get at least 52 FA/TA-50 from Korea costing around USD1.7 billion to be paid for in RMK12 and RMK13. While asking for the korean government a 100% offset value in reciprocal investment of at least USD1.7 billion from korean private sector into malaysia. This can be in electronics (samsung and silterra for example), petrochemicals (additional investment by Lotte Chemicals for example), construction/properties (KL-Singapore HSL or bandar malaysia for example) and aerospace.
We get our fighters, KAI factory have orders, We got investments in our economy and creating jobs, korean manufacturers can exit china. A win for both Malaysia and South Korea.
MK556 is Caracal CAR816 in all but name.
Haenel is fully owned by UAE Tawazun.
@Fadiman
Us? We can play it smart by waiting for more affordable 5th gen fighter to start coming out and mature. Meanwhile we could save the budget by getting Kuwaiti Hornets to tide us while we wait.