The German Air Force has grounded its entire fleet of Eurofighter Typhoon fighters following the detection of glitches in the ejection seat, which, it turns out, cannot guarantee safe operation under certain conditions. Flying operations were suspended on September 15. Among the grounded aircraft will be the ones I photographed conducting training flights (see above) at the Luftwaffe’s 73 Fighter Wing at Rostock-Laage airfield near Germany’s Baltic coast in February. The grounding is reportedly connected with the August crash in which a Saudi pilot was killed in Spain.
Photo by Shiv Aroor
The grounding comes just hours before EADS, the company that owns a controlling stake in the Eurofighter consortium, rebranded its defence business (EADS Defence & Security) as CASSIDIAN.
Photo by Shiv Aroor
Wouldn't this be a logical move for other users of EF Typhoon also, if they use the same ejection seat,and I believe they do? Of course, it would be a bad marketing, but is it worth of potential loss of another life?
Is there truth in the indication of a short list in this report, or is it just the normal journalist FUBAR?
http://www.dnaindia.com/india/report_iaf-to-acquire-126-multi-fighter-aircraft-soon_1437393
And people laugh and denigrate our Tejas and Dhruv projects.
EFT has so many busy parents that it could have missed any vaccination at any time.
Embarrassing for Eurofighter … ouch … Hope the IAF is watching.
The grounding comes just hours before EADS, the company that owns a controlling stake in the Eurofighter consortium, rebranded its defence business (EADS Defence & Security) as CASSIDIAN. another set back for mmrca deal, ej200?
now this is enough to eject EF from MMRCA and favoring more expensive Rafale or Teens.
DOES NOT SEEM TO EFFECT MMRCA.ITS NOT A MASSIVE DEFECT CAN BE EASILY RECTIFIED WITH SMALL MODIFICATION HOPE THEY ARE READY WITH A HANDSOME EXCUSE…..
The Germans will save a lot of money now that their Eurofighters are prevented to fly.
"VIENNA — The Eurofighter user countries were recommended to discontinue exercise and training flights of the Eurofighter because of a perceived safety problem in the ejection seat.
This is a normal procedure to ensure safety.
The interruption was necessary because, if mishandled, the parachute could become separated from the ejection seat in case of ejection.
Pilots are being trained in the new procedures. Thereafter, the training and exercise operations are resumed.
This measure has no effect on the supervision and monitoring of air space.
Eurofighter will continue to carry out operational missions – so-called A-priority flights – and remains fully operational.
-ends-"
minutes ago i red that gaf grounded there Tornados and Phantoms too because of the seat´s… I'm confused… : (
http://augengeradeaus.net/2010/09/deutschlands-kampfflugzeuge-mussen-am-boden-bleiben/
It should be a surprise why the Officer could not include the name of Europe or UK.
Cant think of a more appropriate fighter than the Gripen NG: cheaper, full technology transfer, supercruise, datalinks, man-machine interface, swashplate AESA. Why would America object to a straight commercial transfer of 150 odd engines in any case?? Arent we already in bed with them?
No aircraft offers fool-proof security. atleast we should appreciate them for taking preventive measures before any loss of life. I hope they can sort this matter and get the aircraft ready. And this is not going to effect the mmrca selection process.
shiv take a look at F-15 silent eagle(BOEING stealth version) configuration .. i think its worth adding this aircraft in MRCA competition..
If the cheap swedish crap can supercruise, why it didn't supercruise while it was in India ?
if only we make up our mind to put sums of 10's of billions into domestic private -public market instead to outsiders we can easily fulfill minimum def needs,,,atleast to the extent of no one can dare any hanky panky,,then over the time it will mature and do better,,,but alas we are wasting billions outside,,,in another 20 yrs again we will be ready with empty bowls and billions to outsiders for next purchase
Anon 12:22am, you are right on the dot. When it comes to shovelling billions to foreign entities for the development of their products, we are very magnimous and do not complain even if there is inordinate delays.
Don't we know charity begins at home? Why can't we be equally forthcoming to develop local R&D with enough funds delivered to the public and private sectors?
When the babus don't even show any interest in the private sectors, how is the country ever going to be a leader in defence production?
At this rate we will only be better than the beggars next door who wait for substandard chinki products and alms from Unce Sam?
India has great potential in becoming an advanced industrial country at par with the Americans, Japan, South Korea or EU but will the babus ever recognize this fact and do the necessary?
CASSIDIAN….Hmmm
If N is placed between I & D,
it becomes CASS(cash)INDIA.
Seems like they are desperate for M-MRCA deal.
It cant stop supercruising dweebus. At 20K feet with 4 air to air missiles it will stay beyond Mach 1 but like all supercruisers needs a shot of burner to cross the barrier.At higher altitudes, it will be faster and stay at that speed until runs out of gas
But EJ200 has beaten the GE F414 by a comprehensive 23% lower price for the Tejas MkII engine competition. Then, are we heading to buy the Typhoon in the M-MRCA????