The German aviation industry is pushing for a quick decision on the Eurofighter. Without an early order from the federal government for a fifth tranche, there is a risk of the end of the construction of combat aircraft in Germany and the loss of jobs, tax revenue and cutting-edge technology, warned the industry association BDLI in Berlin.
According to a study by management consultancy PwC commissioned by the association, the Eurofighter represents 25,000 jobs in Germany and a further 75,000 in Europe, with around 120 supplier companies in Germany involved.
According to current planning, production in Germany will end in 2030 with the delivery of the last machine for the Bundeswehr. Because the future European air combat system FCAS should be ready for use from 2040, there is a gap of ten years without orders for the domestic industry.
The BDLI President and Airbus Defense boss Michael Schöllhorn said that if Germany wants to continue building military aircraft in the future, the order for new Eurofighters must “quickly build an industrial bridge to the future. In concrete terms, this means: We need the order for this in this legislative period the further development of the Eurofighter.” Otherwise, the technological foundations for FCAS were missing.
The Eurofighter is used by European air forces. The Bundeswehr describes the Air Force’s 138 Eurofighters as “the backbone of the German combat aircraft fleet. They are a core element in ensuring the Air Force’s future contribution to the required capability profile of the armed forces and the associated alliance obligations.”
