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The Herald December 21, 2007

Eurofighter suspends talks with Norway and Denmark in contest to supply new generation jets

The Associated Press
Published: December 21, 2007


OSLO, Norway: Eurofighter has suspended talks with Norway and Denmark over supplying fighter jets to replace the Nordic nations' aging F-16s, the jet's builder said Friday.
The European EADS consortium, which makes the Eurofighter Typhoon, said it was "not comfortable" with the NATO-member countries' bidding process in competing with the U.S.-led F-35 Joint Strike Fighter project.
EADS has been competing with Sweden's JAS Gripen and the U.S.-led consortium over a contract worth at least 60 billion kroner (US$10.7 billion, euro7.6 billion) to provide 48 jet fighters to Norway. They are also vying for contracts to replace Denmark's 68 F-16 fighters.
According to Norwegian news media, Eurofighter complained that it was not a real competition because Oslo favors the U.S. project.
EADS spokesman Theodor Benien declined to discuss details of the decision to suspend talks, saying only there had been changes in the timing and structure of the bidding process.
"What I can say is that the Eurofighter consortium has made a decision to suspend the fighter replacement talks with Norway and Denmark," Benien said by telephone from EADS Military Aircraft's offices in Munich, Germany. He said ministries of defense in both countries had been informed of the decision this week.
According to the Norwegian state radio network NRK, the Eurofighter consortium believes the bidding process has been changed to accommodate the Joint Strike Fighter consortium, led by Lockheed Martin Corp.
Norway's Deputy Defense Minister Espen Barth Eide denied any favoritism.
"We have no understanding for the claims that the competition rules have been changed," Barth Eide said on NRK. "We are, of course, open for a dialogue with Eurofighter, but seen no need to change the rules of the game."
A Danish defense ministry statement said the country's military would continue its evaluation of the two remaining candidates, and said it was open to Eurofighter choosing to resume involvement in the process.
Gripen International, which is part of the Saab AB group, said the group has no plans to withdraw from negotiations with Norway or Denmark, spokesman Owe Wagermark said.
"We have no reason to. We trust the processes in both Denmark and Norway," Wagermark said.
Norway is expected to decide which jets to buy as early as next year, while Denmark plans to pick no later than 2009.

The comparative analysis has shown that the expected maximum noise levels of the JSF and the Saab Gripen NG hardly avoid one another. With full power, the maximum expected noise 109 dB (A) for the Saab Gripen NG at 110 dB (A) for the JSF. With afterburner are the values respectively 114 dB (A) and 115 dB (A). For the current Dutch F-16, the results of recent measurements from 104 to 107 dB (A) in full and 111 to 114 dB (A) with afterburner.

This maximum noise levels will only occur for a few seconds and the differences between the two devices are negligible. Determine the noise is not so much the noise but also the means of launching and landing, and the number of flights. The JSF used much less often than the afterburner F-16 because the JSF armaments internal meevoert. The F-16 and Saab Gripen NG carry their weapons under the wings. This gives a bit more aerodynamic. Therefore, these devices more often (more than half of take-offs) the afterburner on. The JSF has a larger radius, which in the normal exercise less-offs and landings are required.

The difference in noise levels between the JSF and Saab Gripen NG is thus 1 decibel. This is the human ear is hardly noticeable.

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People shouldn't be so trusting of GAO and other auditor reports. Its important to look at the methodology behind what they say. In the case of the F-35 the GAO's methodology is to compare the development project to that used by the F-22 and Super Hornet. According to the GAO the F-35 would be in a lot of trouble if it was developed in the same way the F-22 and the Super Hornet were. Which is probably a fair call, but does it have any relevance? The F-35 is NOT being developed in the same way as the F-22 and the Super Hornet, it is being developed with a 10-15 year advance in technology which is allowing for far more precise computer modelling and software writing. The GAO says using simualtion for 83% of the aircraft's development is unproven but the F-35 PEO are saying that every flight test is validating the simulation assessment in ways that have never been seen before. So either the accountants at the GAO are out of date or the thousands of engineers at F-35 are misleading everyone else. There are some people willing to beleive the later but I would suggest the former is far more accurate.

Abraham Gubler, (DT).

To be acquired under its Joint Combat Aircraft project, the UK's future F-35Bs will replace its current BAE Systems Harrier GR7/9s, operated by the Royal Air Force/Royal Navy Joint Force Harrier organisation. Up to 138 of the aircraft are expected to be purchased

The leftwing party Socialistic Left (SV in Norway) is one of the latest parties that want's to reconsidder the JSF agreement, and even the leftwing Frp, want's to reconsidder the goverments action in the JSF case.

The cost to the forced relocation of the airport's neighbors, and the eventual relocation of runways, will thus be much higher.