Delivery of 400th Eurofighter

[Jimbuna]

This aircraft always reminds me of what a twin engined F-16 would look similar to....an awesome multi role aircraft.

The German Air Force has today taken delivery of the 400th aircraft during special ceremony at Cassidian’s Military Air Systems Center in Manching, Southern Germany. It was built by the Eurofighter consortium, which includes us.

http://www.baesystems.com/article/BA...3D11tk7a76pp_4

[Herr-Berbunch]

All good

[eddie]

I always liked the looks of that aircraft too Jim!

[Jimbuna]

Originally Posted by eddie

I always liked the looks of that aircraft too Jim!

Rgr that

[MGR1]

Good aircraft, better exports than the French Rafale, but it's still getting replaced by the F-35 at some point (2020's?).

Assuming we can still afford the F-35......

Mike.

[Skybird]

Originally Posted by Herr-Berbunch

All good

Little do you know! Last time I checked - which was maybe 2 or 3 months ago - over one half of the German Eurofighters were grounded (since longer time already) due to several unsolved safety issues and technical problems. I seem to recall talk was half a dozen showstoppers, and two dozens of technical issues recommending the suspension of operational flight service.

This plane is far from having left its Kinderkrankheiten behind. The problem of so many machines grounded is so serious that the German pilots have difficulties to scratch together even the inevitable minimum of practice hours in air.

I hate to say it, but not too much is good with the (German) Eurofighter. At least they have learned from the Starfighter disaster. When Lockheed returned one of the many, many crashed German F-104s and inspected it back in the US, they said this was the by far mostly poorly maintained Starfighter they had ever seen - Germany had bought more F-104s at that time than the Luftwaffe's engineers could manage to properly maintain. As a consequence they did not stop from falling out of the sky. Over one third of the German machines crashed, I think.

The German armed forces have problems with quite man y of their modern systems. The latest corvette has problems. The new helicopter for the navy is described to be totally unsuited. The new IFV has problems with its gun and engine, and electronics. The assault rifle internally is described as a total fail. The Eurohawk drone - administrative failure. And several other major projects being stuck or plagued by problems as well. And then there is the lacking interest and high quitting rate of voluntary recruits since the draft was abandoned. The Bundeswehr currently is unable to get as many recruits as it needs, just two weeks ago an analysis showed that at this rate of personnel decline the army needs to turn to mercenary contractors within the forseeable future. The ability of Germany to fulfill NATO obligations in case of a conflict is seen as "currently not given", and "unlikely to be given within the next future".

Also two weeks ago there was a report showing that the huge majority of veterans returning from operations in Afghanistan with mental and psychological problems, stay untreated and sun supported. Additionally, which is even more worrying maybe, it was sown that the German prevention and selections ystem works so badly that 1 in 5 soldiers get sent to oversea missions while already suffering from psychological health issues that should normally ban him from being sent, and making therapeutic treatment mandatory. Serious this is because there an only be two explanations: either the screening system is incapable to serve its purpose, or the Bundeswehr simply cannot afford to care due to a too thin personnel pool.

Additionally, I point out that psychological health correlates with social class. The mean social profile of the Bundeswehr has constantly dropped in the past 10 or even 20 years.

I think that practically all our neighbours currently have armed forces that are in better shape.

[eddie]

I think sometimes Skybird, that the companies that build these new military equipment (whether its planes, tanks or ships) are making them too high tech in some regards. It might look good on paper, but its reliability is lacking. And that is happening all over, not just in Germany.

[Skybird]

They promise too much at too little money. They do it intentionally, do ghet the contract. And when they got it, the bill grows, and the probolems become apparent. But then too much already has been payed as if somebody would want to pull out.

Its the same with public construction contracts. I only say Berlin airport. Hamburg's Elb-Philharmonie. Stuttgart 21 central rail station. The costs get artificially hidden and calculated too low. Againm, it gets done intentionally, and systematically.

[Jimbuna]

Why the problems with the Eurofighter Sky? I'm not aware of the RAF having any problems.

[mapuc]

Originally Posted by eddie

I think sometimes Skybird, that the companies that build these new military equipment (whether its planes, tanks or ships) are making them too high tech in some regards. It might look good on paper, but its reliability is lacking. And that is happening all over, not just in Germany.

It has something to do with companies doing things for the government
It could have been building a bridge etc.

Same problem in Sweden and Denmark.

Just my 5 cent

Markus

[eddie]

I agree Markus!