August 1, 2013 at 9:11 am
Latest MoD budget news
http://www.defense-aerospace.com/article-view/release/146876/spain-approves-extra-%E2%82%AC877m-for-defense-but-cuts-major-programs.html
the decision to reduce the number of Eurofighter combat aircraft has been deployed [delayed?] until 2015
Spain will operate only 14 of the 27 Airbus A400Ms it is committed to buying, and will try to sell the other 13 to other countries.
The NH90 helicopter program is also slated to take a very large hit, as the number on order is reduced from 45 to 22,
while the numbers of Tiger combat helicopter (6 to be sold off) and Leopard II main battle tanks (reduced from 190 to 117) are also being reduced.
Does anybody know about the potential Tiger sale?
Are those future deliveries that Spain is contractually obligated for but doesn’t want, or existing frames? (HAP or HAD?)
I’m not sure how France is contractually covered for future Tiger purchases, but getting a minor discount for new HAD seems useful for them,
or indeed some sort of discount could help spur sales to some new export customer in general… (probably with more new frames above the 6)
That would especially seem the case for A400M, if Spain is willing to sell them for any remotely decent price.