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The trouble is that integration of a new weapon on Typhoon means getting a slot on the ‘to-do’ list at the multinational programme level, which automatically pushes things into the ‘several years’ timeframe. I wouldn’t be surprised if this issue was among the main reasons for the somewhat surprising announcement that the UK was embarking on a 6th-gen project on its own. |
Originally Posted by tartare
(Post 10445653)
But 7 years?
If Germany had been onboard from the beginning the UK Typhoon programme would have been years ahead of where it is now. |
Originally Posted by ORAC
(Post 10444806)
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-g...-idUSKCN1RM219 Exclusive: Germany sees 8.86 billion euro cost to operate Tornado jets to 2030 BERLIN (Reuters) - The German Defence Ministry estimates it will cost nearly 9 billion euros to keep its aging fleet of 93 Tornado fighter jets flying until 2030, according to a classified document provided to German lawmakers this week. The steep cost forecast includes 5.64 billion euros to maintain the warplanes, which first entered service in 1983, 1.62 billion euros to design replacements for obsolete parts, and 1.58 billion euros to procure them, according to the document, which was viewed by Reuters. Germany in January decided to pick either the Eurofighter or Boeing Co’s F/A-18E/F fighter jet to replace its Tornado fleet in coming years, dropping Lockheed Martin’s F-35 stealth fighter from a tender worth billions of euros. But neither the F/A-18 nor the Eurofighter, built by Airbus, Britain’s BAE Systems and Italy’s Leonardo SpA, are currently certified to carry U.S. nuclear weapons, as required under Germany’s obligations to NATO. That means Germany will be dependent on its Tornado fleet until it gets new certified planes - a process that could take years. The estimate came in response to a query by lawmakers from the opposition Free Democrats, who have criticized the ministry for dropping the F-35 - the only aircraft already certified. The ministry did not specify the cost of operating the Tornado fleet until 2035, the current target, despite a specific request to do so from the lawmakers, and said it could adjust the retirement schedule. Parliamentary sources said the estimate was even higher than expected at around 100 million euros per plane, and it would be cheaper to purchase new aircraft. However Germany’s sluggish defense procurement process, and the complicated process of certifying new aircraft to carry nuclear weapons, meant any new warplanes were unlikely to enter service until 2025 or even later. Of Germany’s 93 Tornado jets, 85 are operated by the Luftwaffe, or air force, but not all are equipped to carry nuclear weapons. The remaining planes are used for training. The current Tornado fleet has a combat readiness rate of under 40 percent, according to sources familiar with new ministry data. Germany in past years had published such data, but this year made the readiness of its weapons a classified matter for security reasons. The RAF has just retired its fleet of Tornado and I have been told that the vast majority of the airframes and systems have been reduced to produce. I also understand that the majority of the RTP items have been supplied to the Saudis. Apparently the German MoD were not prepared to pay as much as the Saudis for these parts. |
Originally Posted by TBM-Legend
(Post 10445592)
Gee the first delivery aircraft, the B-29, was certified and proven in weeks!
Yes seven years does seem a long time. But certifying anything where Nuclear Safety is involved can become a massive exercise. |
Originally Posted by Buster15
(Post 10446029)
Let's at least try to compare apples with applesshall we.
Yes seven years does seem a long time. But certifying anything where Nuclear Safety is involved can become a massive exercise. |
The Eurofighter program has been going on for 35 yrs, flying for 25. It's a good interceptor / air defense platform.
I don't see it as an interdiction solution for the next 35 years. Things moved on, you don't operate in isolation. https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....ab5b9d546a.png https://www.nextbigfuture.com/2016/0...hter-fc31.html |
Originally Posted by keesje
(Post 10460430)
The Eurofighter program has been going on for 35 yrs, flying for 25. It's a good interceptor / air defense platform.
I don't see it as an interdiction solution for the next 35 years. Things moved on, you don't operate in isolation. https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....ab5b9d546a.png https://www.nextbigfuture.com/2016/0...hter-fc31.html |
Originally Posted by keesje
(Post 10460430)
The Eurofighter program has been going on for 35 yrs, flying for 25. It's a good interceptor / air defense platform.
I don't see it as an interdiction solution for the next 35 years. Things moved on, you don't operate in isolation. https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....ab5b9d546a.png https://www.nextbigfuture.com/2016/0...hter-fc31.html |
Originally Posted by Thrust Augmentation
(Post 10460714)
Really looks like a lineup of studio models for a Buck Rodgers or Battlestar G. film!
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https://www.reuters.com/article/germ...-idUSL2N26E1ED German defense minister wants quick decision on Tornado replacement WASHINGTON, Sept 23 (Reuters) - German Defense Minister Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer on Monday said she aimed to decide as soon as possible next year how to replace Germany’s aging fleet of Tornado fighter jets to prevent a lapse in Germany’s ability to carry out missions for NATO. Kramp-Karrenbauer, leader of Chancellor Angela Merkel’s Christian Democrats, said she discussed the issue with U.S. Defense Secretary Mark Esper during her first official visit to Washington since taking on her new role as defense minister. Germany in January decided to pick either the Eurofighter - built by Airbus, Britain’s BAE Systems and Italy’s Leonardo SpA - or Boeing Co’s F/A-18 fighter, dropping Lockheed Martin’s F-35 fighter out of a tender worth billions of euros. However neither the F/A-18 nor the Eurofighter is currently certified to carry U.S. nuclear weapons, as required under Germany’s obligations to NATO. Germany is asking Washington to spell out what it will take to get those aircraft certified. “My goal is that we make clear decisions as quickly as possible next year, so there is no time period in which there is no reasonable solution for replacing the Tornado fleet,” Kramp-Karrenbauer told reporters. She said she would work closely with Esper on the issue in coming months. But experts say it could take years to get the new planes certified to carry nuclear weapons, and the cost of maintaining the current aircraft is rising rapidly. Kramp-Karrenbauer said she also had a frank discussion with Esper about Germany’s rejection of the F-35 as a possible replacement for the Tornado jets, given concerns that it could impede work on a Franco-German next-generation combat jet. “We made clear that ... the Future Combat Air System with the French was one of the reasons that ... we had to seek other solutions,” she said, when asked if she ruled out taking another look at the F-35. Lockheed officials had hoped that Germany could reconsider its decision after the departure of former Defence Minister Ursula von der Leyen........ |
Originally Posted by Buster15
(Post 10446024)
These figures seem surprising.
The RAF has just retired its fleet of Tornado and I have been told that the vast majority of the airframes and systems have been reduced to produce. I also understand that the majority of the RTP items have been supplied to the Saudis. Apparently the German MoD were not prepared to pay as much as the Saudis for these parts. FB |
Use of French weapons would mean they would be stored under French control and released to the delivery unit after a French political decision in the same way that US weapons always have been. I’m not sure that either party is ready for that sort of arrangement. |
The use of a French bomb instead of a US B61 should be possible. |
I'd think that the prime directive for the German military would be to ensure that nuclear weapons are never used in Europe.
Getting rid of US certified nuclear carriers would be positive early result of such a directive. However, I see zero desire to substitute a French nuke for a US nuke. Rather the German government will feel very comfortable having no nuclear capable aircraft because of jurisdictional issues. |
Originally Posted by West Coast
(Post 10579418)
Why should it be possible?
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The Germans want to keep their US NATO nuke role. This is why they practically need some US aircraft capable to be certified for the B61-12. Certifying the Eurofighter would mean to technically disclose everything to the US for nuke-certification. This is what they want to avoid by buying something else. They seem to prefer two seats and two engines.
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Originally Posted by Less Hair
(Post 10580683)
The Germans want to keep their US NATO nuke role. This is why they practically need some US aircraft capable to be certified for the B61-12. Certifying the Eurofighter would mean to technically disclose everything to the US for nuke-certification. This is what they want to avoid by buying something else. They seem to prefer two seats and two engines.
https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....ff010be25.jpeg https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....54e5cbcfc.jpeg https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....e67079b2c.jpeg |
Originally Posted by Lima Juliet
(Post 10581006)
So a 2-seat Strike Typhoon is needed (which was on the table at one point before the idiot single-seat mafia got involved). Producing one would be easy, and with the proposed conformal tanks would be an excellent aircraft. It might even make sense for the Brits to look at this too - single seat is fine for small skirmishes like Libya or Syria, but for full-on high-end war fighting then using one aircraft to do one thing and its wing man to do another on the same mission is a waste if you want to achieve mass effect on a target. https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....ff010be25.jpeg https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....54e5cbcfc.jpeg https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....e67079b2c.jpeg |
Well in my distant past I do remember loading American Special weapon training rounds onto Nimrod so there is a precedent for Bae to work with the USA in that area -weapons were controlled (at least at one base ) by a USN facility - and at the same time the Bucc was still capable of carrying WE177 as Tornado was being brought worked up into that role --with the Jaguar also being capable of carrying WE177 as it often did in RAFG when on QRA....prior to Tonka taking over that role...... |
IIRC the “special certification” for the Jaguar was a US Marine sitting on a ladder with his gun pointed at the pilot’s head and instructions to shoot if he took his hands off the cockpit sides without permission......
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