A Proposal – Eurofighter Mini

First off, I live in Ireland – as everyone knows, it’s a small European country with a population of around 4 million. Our economy has only begun to flourish in the last 10 years, and so we have a lot of infrastructural catching up to do. As such, we cannot afford to purchase and maintain a squadron of state of the art Eurofighter or Gripen fighters – without hindering other developments.

We have no enemies and we don’t get directly involved in foreign wars – except in the role of UN Peacekeepers. Our military is small but professional and fairly well equipped. One area our military has a very limited capability in is Air Defence, the nearest thing to fighter aircraft being turboprop trainers. I believe relatively wealthy countries should have a means of defending their sovereignty.

Particularly since EU enlargement, there are now a number of small countries in a very similar position to ourselves.

My proposal is this:

A small, cheap, single engine, twin seat, supercruising fighter-trainer – specifically for these countries.

I know you’re probably thinking – aha, the T-50!

No.

I’m thinking of a new Eurofighter project between small EU Countries. Underlying the project would be the following principles:

• Our countries have different requirements to the UK/Germany/Spain/Italy
• Where possible, the fighter will use off the shelf components
• Keep complexity to an absolute minimum
• If desirable – use proven airframe as the basis (AMX?)
• Relatively easy maintenance
• Economic
• Ignore complex stealth techniques
• The aircraft are specifically designed for air policing, not attack, not bombing.
• Quick development and fast in service date. < 10 years from now.
• 100% of information, production, shared between all member countries

It’s desirable for the EU that it’s member States have a means of defending themselves – as such, the EU could provide some of the necessary early funding. The project would also give employment to many people in these states.

I see the aircraft as having a radar, carrying 2x Semi Recessed AAM and having internal cannon. From the outset the aircraft would be designed as a two seater to save development costs, thus no need for a seperate conversion trainer and the fighter can double as advanced LIFT trainer. It would have a non afterburning engine, but be easily supersonic.

The key to this aircraft would be simplicity and focus. It is primarily a Fighter, but can be used as a Trainer. It’s not designed to carry an AESA radar, it wont be rated in 7000 different kinds of munitions, it wont be multi or omni-role, it wont have thrust vectoring – it WILL intercept wayward jets.

In my opinion the T-50 is far too expensive, and the EU wouldn’t benefit from the money going abroad. The MB-346 is too slow, is expensive and doesn’t have radar. The Hawk is too slow, is expensive and only the single seater is fitted with radar. The EADS Mako, looks extremely complex, expensive and quite possibly will never fly.

I think there is a role for a modern, economic and simple fighter in today’s small air forces.

Opinions?