Barcelona will host a high level Eurofighter Typhoon Ministerial Meeting this Monday and Tuesday.

The meeting in the Palace Capitanía de Barcelona and will have monitoring and controlling of the progress of the Eurofighter program on the agenda, including making decisions about the future and strategic directions.

Last meeting was 6 moths ago and there was a rash of newly funded items. So there may be some new news early in the week.!!

cheers

I had hoped the 25% would be a Kuwaiti order …. looks like it’s an AESA production order.

As I understand the pod was cleared for the centreline pylon is it was quick and easy to do as part of the ‘austure’ A-G capability that the RAF wanted to produce. I suspect that in the longer term a bespoke fitment on the missile stations will appear, if only to free up a heavy rated, wet pylon. Remember at some stage typhoons have to carry 2000lb bombs, storm shadows etc.

As an aside – what is the max rating for the innermost wing pylons? – I know they’re space constrained by the landing gear but what is their loading limit – can they do 2000lb bombs or a double/triple rack of PW IVs?

As the old saying goes …. be careful what you wish for!

Boeing had enough on their plate with 737 upgrade/replacement, 787 & 747 cert and 777 upgrade. I rather suspect polishing the aeronautical turd that is a 767 with underwing hose pods may prove to be the proverbial straw on the camels back!

Boeing won, Washington & Kansas won, America lost!

Which amphibious ships would they be – I think Ocean is definitly for the chop if both carriers are being built – but it might be (should be) 2 off bay class that get cut.

This is still utterly excessive – Liger has noted some understandable savings through base rationalisation but as he says cutting our amphibious capabilities and world class SSN fleet is madness.

with a 36hr endurance does it need to be based on the carrier. A fleet could transit back and forth autonomously whilst miantaining a supervised orbit.

you recall wrong – first metal cut was well before the the original first flight date and reasonably to schedule. If you are going to be a troll at least be a properly informed troll.

(first flight originally 2007, first metal cut 2005)

I think this is the least worst option. It preserves the basic capability hopefully future buys of JSF can be made when the finances permit.

Should a case be made for kitting the Albion and/or Bay classes with a hanger and proper Heli support facilities? A 65000 tonne carrier might be something of an overkill for some missions (not to mention a very high value asset to be put in harm’s way!