Interview with Enzo Casolini, CEO of Eurofighter,
about potentional import of fighters to small countries like Czech Republic,
huge tender for Indian army and importance of having the strong advantage in
the air.
Mr. Casolini, how do you assess the prospect of
obtaining Eurofighter by smaller countries like Czech Republic? Do you think
that Eurofighter is competitive in this field with lighter aircrafts such as
Gripen, Fighting Falcon or even F
|
|
We can observe the advent of very advanced aircraft,
which are going to compete on international market such as Rafale,F-35, Gripen
and of course Russian fighters such latter of members of Su-27 and MiG-29
families. According to you, what are the main advantages of Eurofighter aganist
these competitors?
Any fighter acquisition process involves a number of different factors
including political, industrial, and operational. Keeping strictly to performance/operational/effectiveness
terms, the Eurofighter Typhoon has simple and clear advantages respect its
direct competitors:
With emphasis on the design solution: Eurofighter Typhoon
has been designed as multirole but optimised for air superiority. One of the
main tenets in combat aircraft design is that “you can turn a fighter into a
bomber but not a bomber into a fighter”. In our case it means that Eurofighter Typhoon
will be able to cover all the air dominance capabilities requested by the air
forces today and in the future. This is basically achieved by integrating
Air-to-Surface weapons and tweaking some avionics; no intervention is required
on the aero design and the performance designed for Air-to-Air is more than
adequate for the Air-to-Ground envelope.
The Eurofighter Typhoon is a much more powerful air
superiority fighter than those mentioned and basically better/equal to the best
of the list in the strike role, but with a much better radar. It has more
potential for growth in all systems. Its engines give it a better
thrust-to-weight ratio and are more technologically advanced, with an untapped
reserve of growth power, if needed. Therefore it will fit better in the present
and future order of battle of the Air Forces. By being able to perform all
missions at the highest level of performance it will fit and adapt as the
operational circumstances dictate. As the achievement of air superiority or
even better air supremacy is and will remain the first objective of a competent
Air Force.
On what aspects will future modernization programs of
Eurofighter concentrate on? Some analyst suggests, that there should be more
stealth features, thrust vectoring etc? What do you think?
The Eurofighter Typhoon has a continuous development path. It is a young
platform (it entered in service at the end of 2003, recently achieved 110.000
flying hours) with a large and comprehensive four partner nations enhancement
program. The program plan has a periodical two years major updates sequence. In spring 2009, the Eurofighter Supervisory Board approved a far
reaching capability development study for the Typhoon Weapon System keeping the
weapon system ahead of all rivals well beyond 2020.
Beyond 2020 Typhoon will compete with F-35 and PAK-FA and is likely to be
the only non-aligned platform available to nations wishing to acquire an in
production manned fighter aircraft. To ensure that Typhoon can offer a credible
alternative in this timeframe, it is envisaged that the comprehensive
development programme will continue across the aircraft design and all aspects
of the Weapon System, including such items as stealth measures, new mission
systems, updated HMI and improved platform kinematics (including thrust, mass,
flight envelope, range and fatigue life). Such upgrades will continue to retain
air superiority over the competitors /threat (particularly PAK-FA and FC-20),
and have relevance to current Users.
Future proof Design. The Eurofighter Typhoon twin engine design provides
significantly more growth opportunities than any single-engine. Future upgrades
will require more electrical power and associated cooling. This increased demand
on the propulsion system to deliver more mechanical drive power to the aircraft
accessory drive gearbox is much easier fulfilled with latent power designed
into Typhoons twin engine power pack.
Air superiority is a
necessity and the enabler of most war operations. Since the start of WWII in
1939, no country has won a war in the face of enemy air superiority, no major
offensive has succeeded against an opponent who controlled the air, and no
defence has sustained itself against an enemy who had air superiority.
Conversely, no State has lost a war while it maintained air superiority, and
attainment of air superiority consistently has been a prelude to military
victory. This situation is likely to continue in the future and become even
more important even if only in the air policing role. A fighter aircraft is an
investment to guarantee deterrence and superiority against any potential threat
for every nation.
Which country do you see now as the most promising
buyer of Eurofighter? There is a large tender in India, where the final choice
will be between Eurofighter and Rafale, but where are the other potential
markets?
India of course is globally the largest competitive tender for multi
role combat fighters; the decision has strategic importance and impact on
various markets. Other large tenders include Japan and South Korea, two
countries traditionally linked with US that have for decades only procured
combat aircraft from the US; a change from this tradition will send shockwaves
industrially and geo-politically.
In addition almost all the Arabian Gulf countries are interested in a
new fighter, as are Central and Eastern Europe countries. Eurofighter Typhoon is
a realistic solution, giving nations such as the Czech Rep., Poland, Bulgaria,
Romania, Croatia, Slovakia and Serbia potential for a common platform and opportunity
to establish closer bilateral political/military agreements between them and/or
between them and the four partner nations. These joint opportunities could provide
efficiencies and strength in areas such as affordability, logistic support,
training, capability growth, and component production. This investment brings
economic benefit through local participation and equally strengthens European
collaboration through spending European money in Europe.
Could you comment on the affect of the financial
crisis on the weapon industry?
Easy to answer that financial crisis affects defence budgets, and
therefore directly impacts the update of the defence aircraft fleets. However
where a local defence industry exists and has a role in the development of a
country in terms of technological and industrial assets, Governments that
have a long term vision to invest in
defence, will gain technological spin off that uniquely come from this sector, along
with the knowledge gained and skills developed by the people involved.
There have been some talks regarding possible rearming
of Libyan rebels by some NATO countries. Could you comment, at least in
general, what is the position of your company towards issues of such
parameters?
No comment. This is a political issue out from our field of activity
Thank you.
Jakub Janda
--
The Eurofighter
Typhoon is a twin-engine, canard-delta wing, multirole combat aircraft, designed and built by a consortium of
three companies: EADS, Alenia Aeronautica and BAE Systems; working through a holding
company, Eurofighter GmbH, which was formed in 1986.
The project is
managed by the NATO
Eurofighter and Tornado Management Agency, which acts as the prime
customer.[5]
The series production of the Eurofighter Typhoon is underway, and
the aircraft is being procured under separate contracts, named "tranches", each for aircraft with
generally improved capabilities. The aircraft has entered service with the
German Luftwaffe, the British Royal Air Force, the Italian Air Force, the Spanish Air Force, the Austrian Air Force and the Royal Saudi Air Force.
