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D The place and audience of the first were cleverly chosen. In the slightly darkened cottage of British aviation group BAE Systems, CEO Charles Woodburn addresses the military and leaders. "I can not imagine a better time to launch this new program," he says.
The British Secretary of Defense, Gavion Williamson, announces the following message: "Britain remains the world leader in air combat". revealed. "Team Tempest" is written on a blackboard, meaning "Team Sturm."
The announcement at the Farnborough Air Show is virtually the British declaration of independence in the construction of the post-Brexit fighter plane. Britain wants to retain its technical skills in building a new generation fighter, they say officially.
The Jet, which was introduced for the first time in the model and is expected to be operational by 2035 Game of the fighting industry of Europe. There, the maps are being redesigned. It is the successor of the Tornado bomber and, in the second stage, the successor of the Eurofighter
His name suggests that all major European countries are involved. This was originally planned. Then France wriggled and built with the Rafale his own model. The Eurofighter has become a four-nation program with Germany, Britain, Italy and Spain.
British Scissors
Now a ride with different signs is emerging. Recently, France and Germany have presented themselves as central nations for the Eurofighter FCA (Future Combar Air System) monitoring project and have openly shown that Britain can cooperate.
But in Farnborough, the British now announce their own ideas – as the French have already done and even invite other partners to take part. The British BAE Systems weapons team, the Rolls Royce engine manufacturer, the Italian armament company Leonardo and MBDA, a missile manufacturer with Airbus, Leonardo and BAE Systems as a shareholder. , Old friends, because also largely involved in the Eurofighter.
For the British, the new fighter jet has a symbolic character. The war is entering a new, more dangerous era, said Defense Secretary Williamson. The British want to play in this top league. By 2025, two billion pounds will be invested in the program. The model should be able to fly with pilot or unmanned. The model shown at the show is just a concept and does not have to look like this.
Then comes a remarkable note: Great Britain does not see any problem with other countries joining the program, said the Minister of Defense Williamson. The final decision of investment must be made in 2025.
The pan-European fighter plane moves away
The British military are convinced. With the new fighter "we make sure that we also control the airspace in the future," said the Chief Air Section Chief of the Air Staff, Sir Stephen Hillier,
. the British have probably burst. It is now a question of whether the "Team Tempest" can still be integrated into the Franco-German jet fighter project, or if the British are finally separating.
It is also a question of how to continue transatlantic projects. For example, Britain has ordered the American F-35 jet fighter for its aircraft carrier.
With billions invested in a new jet plane, Britain will look for allies and keep the door open. Here are the Swedes who build a fighter with the model Gripen
Even cooperation with Japan or India kept possible. In addition, Turkey is pursuing long-term plans for its own fighter jet.
The reorganization of the European fighter aircraft industry is particularly explosive because US President Donald Trump is pushing European partners to NATO for more military spending. It is indirectly an economic stimulus package for the national arms industry because Europe can not cover all projects independently.
Germany wants to order new heavy helicopters and must order from Boeing or Lockheed-Sikorsky. Another example is the multi-billion dollar project for the next generation of German air defense. Here, the alliance of Lockheed gets the contract with the European group MBDA or the American manufacturer Patriot Raytheon.
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