“Customer air forces keep expressing their full satisfaction”

Interview with Mr. Enzo Casolini, CEO of Eurofighter GmbH

08:52 GMT, November 24, 2009 With production of Tranche 2 aircraft in full swing, the Tranche 3A order signed, Phase 1 enhancements being implemented while Phase 2 is being negotiated, and several export possibilities being actively pursued, the Eurofighter programme is in its full maturity as far as production is concerned. Volker Schwichtenberg, CEO of the Mönch Publishing Group, and Dr. Ezio Bonsignore, Editor-in-Chief of MILITARY TECHNOLOGY (MILTECH) – a media partner of defpro.com – travelled to Eurofighter GmbH’s headquarters in Hallbergmoos near Munich, Germany to discuss the current situation and future prospects with the company’s new CEO, Enzo Casolini.

This interview is published in two parts at defpro.com on 24 and 25 November 2009. Part two of the interview can be read here: http://www.defpro.com/daily/details/455/.


MT: Let’s start with a personal question. Was your appointment as the new Head of Eurofighter GmbH in May a promotion, a punishment, a challenge, ...?

Casolini: Well, on the one hand I felt promoted, particularly in that immediately upon my appointment I was able to sign the all-important Tranche 3A contract. But on the other hand, I have it very clear in my mind that the Eurofighter programme, as far as production is concerned is in its full maturity and in the next 7 to 8 years will go toward its conclusion. Our existing orderbook is the largest between the new-generation fighters, with 707 units, and will sustain activities up to 2016, and I am thus acutely aware of the inherent challenge of achieving results that would extend this up to at least 2020 and possibly 2025 through exports success. This is an important goal not only in business terms, but also to support the huge positive economic impact that this program have on the European economy and the very many jobs in the many companies associated to the Eurofighter programme - for instance, more than 25,000 jobs depend on the Eurofighter programme here in Germany.


MT: How would you assess the overall status of the Eurofighter programme, and of Eurofighter GmbH as a company?

Casolini: As of today [20 October 2009] we have delivered 195 aircraft, and what is more important, our customer air forces keep expressing their full satisfaction with the Eurofighter - not simply as an aircraft, but an entire and mature weapon system. For instance, the Royal Air Force (RAF) has recently unveiled data that indicate an average efficiency rate of 66 per cent for its TYPHOON fleet, which is better than more mature aircraft in service since many years and indeed much higher than expected by the operators. The same experience applies to the Eurofighters currently operationally deployed by the German Air Force and the Italian Air Force for airspace policing missions over the Baltic States and Albania, respectively. Also, the RAF has since expanded the Eurofighter’s original air superiority roles to also include a “swing role” capability for air-to-ground missions and Germany will do the same from late this year.

As regards industrial and financial aspects proper, we are in full production of Tranche 2 aircraft; we have a Tranche 3A production order that gives us life until 2016; we are in the middle of the Phase 1 enhancements; and, we are negotiating Phase 2 enhancements. It is sometimes forgotten that the Eurofighter is by far the most successful combat aircraft of its generation in terms of firm orders. So, the overall situation is currently quite OK.
But with such a sophisticated and complex military aerospace programme, we need to look far into the future - say, at last ten year’s time - in order to be prepared for things to come. This is why, amongst other things we are actively pursuing, possible export sales have a guarantee of continued production well beyond 2016.


MT: When will be first Tranche 3A aircraft be delivered, and to whom?

Casolini: The aircraft will be delivered in 2013, and if I remember correctly it is intended for the Spanish Air Force.


MT: In terms of the future growth and sustainment of the Eurofighter programme, what would be your priority goal - to arrive at signature of the follow-on Tranche 3B order, or rather to purse the further technological development of the aircraft?

Casolini: Needless to say, both aspects are important. Beyond the obvious interest towards continuously upgrading the Eurofighter in order to ensure that it remains at the very technological forefront of fighter aircraft for its entire expected service life, further technological development is important because some export markets increasingly require characteristics and performance the Eurofighter does not currently offer.

By the same token, the Tranche 3B order is important not only in order to complete production for the four partner countries, but also because the pre-requisite for winning export orders is an open production line. If we have to close down the line after 2016, it would be exceedingly complex and very costly to reopen it to fulfil an export contract. We would certainly not wish to end up in such a predicament.

This said, I don’t think it would be appropriate for me to speculate further on the Tranche 3B order, because this is a decision that rests solely with the four governments. Once such a decision is formulated, industry will see how to deal with it.


MT: When should a 3B contract be signed, in order to keep the production line open?

Casolini: Based on the current time schedule, we should be under contract by May/June 2011. So, we don’t have much time. Unless perhaps the four governments agree on delayed deliveries for the Tranche 3A aircraft currently on order, that would give us another year or two.


MT: The Tranche 3A contract covers aircraft to the Tranche 2 Block 20 standard, without any of the many improvements and advanced features that industry has been offering. Why was it so, that the four member countries and industries were unable to reach an agreement on exploiting the Eurofighter’s huge development potential? Lack of money or lack of an agreement about what is needed/affordable?

Casolini: Both. In the Eurofighter programme, any step forward is only possible, if the four partner nations agree on it, or are at least willing to accept a compromise - which may take excruciatingly long to negotiate. Plus, on certain occasions there are different priorities and interests amongst the industrial partners.

To quote but an example, Spain and UK have already taken a commitment towards not only completing development of the METEOR air-to-air missile but also launching series production, while Germany and Italy are still holding their options. Thus, the METEOR programme has been slowed down, and its integration onto the Eurofighter could not be contracted within the Tranche 3A award.


MT: Certain improvements and upgrades are to be introduced through dedicated programmes. But, would these programmes be carried out by each nation on an independent national basis, or will they always involve the consensus and participation by all four partners?

Casolini: As you know, enhancements to the Eurofighter are being implemented through different phases. Phase 1 in under contract and underway, but the four governments have not yet reached a clear understanding about what elements should be included under Phase 2. We as industry very much look forward towards being told, hopefully by the end of the year, whether or not al four air forces are interested in a AESA radar, whether or not they would all commit themselves towards integration of the METEOR air-to-air missile, and so on. Based on that, we could then formulate a cost proposal, which in my opinion should lead to a contract by the end of January 2010.

Even though the four air forces have different requirements, at least three of them are acutely aware of the need to avoid a repeat of the TORNADO experience [whereby purely national upgrade programmes eventually led to substantially different fleets and loss of interoperability - Ed.], and we in industry would certainly encourage them towards proceeding through a common approach for the same enhancements.


MT: In your perception and based on you assessment of what the market requires, what would be the most importance additional feature(s) you would want to see being added to the Eurofighter?

Casolini: This would very much depend on the individual requirements and possibilities of the customer country. But in general terms, I’ll say the essential elements are the AESA radar, and the METEOR missile.


MT: Would any Phase 2 enhancements as eventually agreed upon be introduced directly on the production line, or would rather take the form of later retrofit programmes for existing aircraft?

Casolini: As already indicated, we are currently involved in a series of meetings and discussions that will last until the end of the year, just to try and finalise a time schedule for Phase 2. Needless to say, the best solution would be for these upgrades to be already present on the very first Tranche 3A aircraft to leave the production line. Unfortunately, as of today there is no certainty in this regard.

>> Continue reading the second part of the interview here: http://www.defpro.com/daily/details/455/.