Eurofighter Expects Technology Maturation Contract This Year

FARNBOROUGH—Eurofighter expects to secure a contract before year-end from its core customers for a three-year technology maturation program to prepare to modernize the twin-engine fighter, says the consortium’s CEO Giancarlo Mezzanatto.

The program could feature work on new processors and help underpin a novel cockpit design, Mezzanatto said here at Farnborough Airshow, as well as other activities. Recent order bookings and deals under discussion are likely to keep the Eurofighter in service until 2060, he said, making a clear technology upgrade roadmap imperative.

This year, Eurofighter signed the system definition phase for a tranche of enhancements called P4E. The development phase of that effort is due to start in 2025.

“We are experiencing a true renaissance of the program,” Mezzanatto said.

Eurofighter could also serve as a technology bridging mechanism for European countries to their respective sixth-generation fighter projects, he noted. The UK and Italy, along with Japan, are working on the Global Combat Air Program—due to enter service in 2035—while Germany and Spain, along with France, are pursuing a rival effort, with a service entry planned for the early 2040s.

The Eurofighter consortium last year made a prediction of taking in 150-200 additional orders over the coming two years. The consortium had already booked 680 orders, with 606 of those aircraft delivered.

Mezzanatto said he was confirming his prediction. Eurofighter is finalizing talks with Spain for 25 more aircraft, Germany has said it would buy a further 20 with a contract likely next year and Italy is looking for 24 more aircraft, with an eye to getting them quickly. Eurofighter is also in talks with the UK, which has just kicked off a defense review, about whether it may want more fighters, he indicated. Aside from those core countries, Eurofighter is pursuing additional sales in Saudi Arabia, as well as potential exports to what would be new buyers Poland and Turkey.  

“We have important and realistic export opportunities,” Mezzanatto said, putting the order window now at 160-200 aircraft.

The deals would likely keep Eurofighter in production until at least 2035. Mezzanatto said some export customers want the aircraft quickly, which may require core customers to give up some delivery positions to satisfy demand. He also said talks are underway with suppliers to ensure they can support the ramp-up in production which the order wave will likely necessitate.