I know this is from the Sun, but still…
By GEORGE PASCOE-WATSON
Deputy Political Editor
DEFENCE Secretary Geoff Hoon is poised to scrap the Eurofighter warplane — because it’s useless.
Military experts reckon the jet — jointly built by Britain, Germany, Spain and Italy — cannot be used either as a fighter or a bomber.
Now Mr Hoon is on the brink of axeing orders for 177 Eurofighters to ensure taxpayers are not left with a white elephant costing £30billion.
The move risks infuriating our three EU partners.
But Mr Hoon believes RAF pilots will be placed in grave danger if we do not back out.
The planes, called Typhoons, will not carry air-to-air missiles or precision-guided air-to-ground weapons.
One source said: “The British taxpayer should not end up with a machine that looks pretty at air displays but can’t go into action. Geoff won’t sign up to future phases unless it is fit for going to war. And under current plans, it’s just not up to the job.”
Ministers have already written off £7billion on the first batch of 55 Typhoons.
Pulling out of future orders would cost around £2billion because of penalties in the contract.
Italy, Germany and Spain are all dragging their heels over funding.
Germany has refused to fork out the extra needed to equip the jet with up-to-date weaponry.
The RAF have only taken delivery of four aircraft.
They were four years late and will not be ready for action for another two years.
The project has been plagued by delays and cash overruns since its design 20 years ago.
Experts blame EU-loving ex-Defence Secretary Michael Heseltine for lumbering us with the project.
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March 2, 2004 at 1:31 pm