Green light given for German Quadriga Eurofighters
The German budget committee has approved the purchase of 38 new Eurofighter Typhoons under the country’s Project Quadriga acquisition plan, releasing €5.5billion ($6.52 billion) in the process.
German Air Force Tranche 1 Eurofighters will be replaced to make way for Tranche 3 successors – referred to by the German MoD as Tranche 4.
‘Important replacement and exchange parts from tranche one are no longer manufactured’ the German MoD said in a 6 November statement.
‘In the medium term, this would have meant that the jets would have been extensively and costly overhauled. With the new 38 aircraft, the Eurofighter fleet will have a uniform and more flexible range of capabilities in the future.’
The Tranche 3 aircraft are scheduled to be delivered between 2025 and 2030, in addition to a planned buy of 55 Eurofighters, due to replace an aging Tornado fleet, 30 Boeing F/A-18E/F Super Hornets taking on a nuclear delivery role and 15 EA-18G Growlers supporting an Electronic Attack requirement left vacant by the retiring of Tornado.
All Project Quadriga aircraft will be equipped with an E-Scan radar which includes a multichannel receiver.
The system will provide Germany with full national radar sovereignty, according to manufacturer Airbus.
The German MoD also confirmed that two Eurofighters which crashed in a midair collision in July 2019, will be replaced by two of the 38 aircraft being procured under Project Quadriga, with three also due to be used for testing purposes.
‘These [test aircraft] will be assigned to the future national [Eurofighter] test and development center,’ the MoD added.
‘The center is intended to provide significant support for future system support and further development of the modern e-scan radar, among other things.’
Related Programmes in Defence Insight
Related Equipment in Defence Insight
More from Defence Notes
-
UK faces cost of balancing defensive capabilities abroad as Iran conflict widens
The UK has recently deployed a Type 45 destroyer to Cyprus and has bolstered its presence in the Middle East in recent weeks with supporting air power to protect neighbouring countries’ air defences.
-
India’s strategic defence footprint expansion could be accelerated by Iran-Israel conflict
The latest escalation between Iran and Israel could shape New Delhi’s next-generation shield as India deepens cooperation with Israel on missile defence and drone production.
-
Is the US magazine of air defence interceptors deep enough to sustain a long campaign against Iran?
The Pentagon spent a considerable number of THAAD and SM-3 rounds to defend against Iranian missiles in 2025 and has not fully replenished its reserves.
-
New Zealand buys tri-service uncrewed kit from Syos Aerospace
As uncrewed technology continues to play an increasingly central role in modern military activities, New Zealand’s recent acquisitions point towards its the force’s focus on cost-effective capability.