Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!rpi!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!cis.ohio-state.edu!pacific.mps.ohio-state.edu!linac!att!cbnews!cbnews!military From: adam@ste.dyn.bae.co.uk (Adam Curtin) Newsgroups: sci.military Subject: Re: German F-4 variant Message-ID: <1991Jun25.022649.24256@cbnews.cb.att.com> Date: 25 Jun 91 02:26:49 GMT References: <1991Jun21.013542.12347@cbnews.cb.att.com> Sender: military@cbnews.cb.att.com (william.a.thacker) Organization: British Aerospace (Dynamics), Stevenage Lines: 53 Approved: military@att.att.com From: Adam Curtin In article <1991Jun21.013542.12347@cbnews.cb.att.com> dthompso@magnus.acs.ohio-state.edu (David G Thompson) writes: >Finally, as a follow-on question, if the Germans *don't* have >this Phantom-on-steroids available, isn't it about time they >started thinking about acquiring reasonably up-to-date air- >superiority fighters and/or interceptors? These former-DDR MiG- >29 Fulcrums of which they seem to be disposing so casually >probably could out-fight anything in the current Luftwaffe >inventory (other than the hypothetical ICE), couldn't they? [ From an old Flight International ... ] On May 16 1988 the governments of Britain, West Germany and Italy signed an memorandum of understanding giving the go-ahead for full-scale development of the Eurofighter. Spain, became the fourth partner later that year. Aeritalia, British Aerospace, CASA and MBB formally launched the Eurofighter company to produce the EFA (European Fighter Aircraft) in June 1986, against an initial requirement of 810 aircraft (250+ for Great Britain, 200 for Italy, 100 for Spain and 200+ for West Germany). The aircraft is a canard delta with a maximum take-off weight of 17,000kg, a wing area of 50 sq.m., and two turbofans giving a total thrust of 180kN. The prototypes will have Turbo Union RB.199 engines (from the Tornado), but production aircraft will be powered by Eurojet EJ.200s, which are being developed by a consortium of Rolls-Royce, Fiat, MTU and SENER. A multimode pulse-Doppler radar will be fitted, possibly an adaptation of the Hughes APG-65 (Emerald), a new Ferranti/Fiar/Inisel unit designated ECR-90, or Ferranti's existing Blue Vixen. Armament will include an internal gun plus AMRAAM and ASRAAM. EFA will be optimised for air-to-air roles but will have a secondary air-to-surface capability. A two-seat combat-capable trainer is also planned. [ From BAe Dynamics' (unclassified!) June '91 newsletter ... ] The first EFA starboard wing was completed last month at BAe Military Aircraft's Warton, England site and shipped to MBB in Germany where final assembly of the first development aircraft will take place. The starboard wing and the front fuselage, also manufactured at Warton, will be married to the centre fuselage made by MBB, with the rear fuselage supplied by CASA and the port wing made by Alenia of Italy. The second EFA development aircraft will be assembled at Warton commencing this month - both aircraft will be flying by mid-'92, and all seven development aircraft will be flying by early '94, with first deliveries scheduled for 1996. Adam -- You have just begun reading the sentence you have just finished reading.