Eurofighter Seen Overtaking US Fighter Makers In Revenues

[MadRat]

http://www.spacedaily.com/news/industry-04i.html

It begins to explain the premise of its argument then completely leaves off the basis for the plot.

"Overall, the analysis reports that deliveries of fighter aircraft can be expected to accelerate during the 2004-2013 timeframe. FI is projecting worldwide deliveries of 4,300 new aircraft worth $161 billion, with shipments and revenues both rising from late-decade onward.

The so-called legacy fighters - the F-15, F-16, and Mirage 2000 - continue to generate "last call" orders, but interest in these types will fade in favor of next-generation models such as the F/A-22, F-35 Joint Strike Fighter, Dassault Rafale, and the Eurofighter Typhoon by the end of the 10-year period under review."

So basically they are saying that Eurofighter is going to clean up in sales of fighters.

Another source says "The aircraft, capable also of performing air-to-ground mission, can be air-refuelled, and carries last generation radar, weapon and avionics. The production of Eurofighter has been planned for 620 aircraft: United Kingdom (232), Germany (180), Italy (121) and Spain (87). In addition, the aircraft has been ordered by Austrian Air Force, has been selected by Greece and down-selected by Singapore." This basically means the Eurofighter is an over-priced new-body old-technology fighter. What they fail to mention is that although its an old design it does have some serious advances for the export market:

1. air-refulling: commitment to have NATO standard equipment as default option, the complete tanker-fighter package is thus readily available through Eurofighter subcontractors; they can turn most any commercial airliner into an airtanker plane

2. super cruising: a technology that should be kept under wraps until the Russians or Chinese develop similar technology!!

3. agility through weight-savings: constructed of carbon fire composites, glass-reinforced plastic, aluminium lithium, titanium and aluminium casting.

4. passive stealth: features include low frontal radar cross-section, and passive sensors.

5. redundant fly-by-wire: multiple fail-safes; flight-control computers provides artificial stabilisation and gust elevation to give good control characteristics throughout the flight envelope; the foreplane/delta configuration is intentionally aerodynamically unstable which provides a high level of agility (particularly at supersonic speeds), low drag and enhanced lift.

6. VTAS (voice-throttle-and-stick system): pilot carries out mode selection and data entry procedures using voice command and 24 fingertip controls.

7. Latest in HMS (Helmet Mounted Symbology) technology: Heads-Up Display (HuD) and BAE Systems Striker Helmet integrated to minimize workload of the pilot; system fed by l16-class datalink for secure battle management via command-control; subcontractors (some U.S.) offer high tech battle-management availability to the full adopters!

8. FLIR (forward look infrared): both 3 - 5 and 8 - 11 micron spectral bands giving low-light, moonlit navigation; doubles as IRST (Infrared Search and Track) system. Technology at this level was not previous available for wide export until recently, but the Russians have been giving it away of late.

9. 14K lbs of thrust dry, 22K lbs reheated (afterburner): able to push over Mach 1 w/o afterburner which is why its a supercruiser; on the downside doesn't hold up as well as for MTBF when compared to projected U.S. fighter engines since they stress battle performance over economy (like *gasp* Russian and French equipment)

10. $$$ and jobs for UK: Expected to directly employ 18K people in Europe and the U.S. when they hit full production (but reduced from projected 20+K), with the UK and Italy getting the bulk of the benefit

I'm just not seeing this fighter being able to reshuffle to power structures of major militaries around the world. The technology due out in the Eurofighter is going to be hot on the open market but fairly stale on the homefront because its been delayed for so long now. Some of the unknowns for this project deal with SAMs (surface to air missiles), ground to air pilotless aircraft (one-way interceptors like SAM's with missile payloads), passive radar networks using high-frequency cellular-band pattern recognitions, prolliferation of AEWC (airborne early warning/command) aircraft technologies, etc. etc. The Eurofighter is a much more expensive option than some of the proven fighters of our time, plus may end up being less able than the F-35 program which has more potential in the next twenty-five years. I bet the French rank it as a guppied-version of thier Rafale program!

 

[ReiAyanami]

but the JSF starts with $200 billion from our own pentagon and israel+taiwan+japan+SK are definetly going to get some of those

oh well, seeing as how boeing (or was it northrup) exited the military jet market following lockheed's contract win, any competition is good from anyone (as long as its not china)

 

[Falloutboy]

let the world buy this plane..........its no matter they won't see the F22 coming in to rape them, while the F35 follows to clean up the remains

 

[Zephyr106]

Hmmm they seem to have forgotten about the dozen (?) nations that have signed on to the JSF program. While many haven't commited to buying, they have a vested interest in seeing it sell because they have companies making components. I predict Typhoon will be like Tornado, a few customers, later in life, but no huge success export (as was initially predicted for Tornado).

Zephyr

 

[SuperTool]

Originally posted by: Falloutboy525
let the world buy this plane..........its no matter they won't see the F22 coming in to rape them, while the F35 follows to clean up the remains

Chances of Eurofighter facing a F-22 are zippo. If I was buying eurofighter I would be more concerned if it can hold its own against say a SU-30MKI or SU-37
It doesn't have the stealth of the F-22 to sneak up on the SU, which is the king in terms of maneuverability at close range.

 

[Zephyr106]

That manuerverability isn't that important with accurate missiles. I think a study found that a large majority of kills, even in the days of guns, were the "pounce", i.e. an attack that yielded a kill before the victim had time to really react, or even see it coming.

The Sukhois have the fairly good Archer missile which outclasses the Sidewinder in some aspects, coupled with the early Russian adoption of helmet mounted sights, these aircraft were very good in visual range.

But Eurofighter and F/A-22 pilots will have superior helmet mounted sights, and superior WVR missiles- ASRAAM and AIM-9X. Only if the Russians field or export the R-74 and improved helmet sights, etc., will the Flanker family retain advantages within visual range.

Zephyr

 

[MadRat]

With the next-generation programs heavily dependent on alot of external battle management support to be superior to previous generations, this is something that makes exports of them less likely but to the richest countries out there. As far as for performance they won't exactly be a Porsche in a crowd of Volkswagons if the competition goes with over-hauled designs like the healthy Mirages, F-16's and F-15's. (Or re-engineered MiGs for that matter...) But they will be soundy superior to all of the latter if they also have the advanced battle management structures in support. Since all of the new designs are inherently expensive, and will likely cost much more to sustain flying than to purchase, they do help alleviate an international arms race for Armageddon like we had in the 1980's.

 

[zillafurby]

im sure bin laden is quaking in his booties.