Interview with Bernhard Gerwert, Chairman of the Supervisory Board of Eurofighter GmbH and CEO Cassidian Air Systems
How do you see Eurofighter Typhoon positioned in India’s MMRCA competition?
We are convinced that we are very well positioned because all the strengths and advantages of our offer are well reckognized by India’s decision makers. Eurofighter Typhoon is clearly the technologically most advanced combat aircraft on offer for the MMRCA tender. My impression is that its superior combat performance is well understood in India. It is encouraging that the flight trials went very well for us and according to plan, including the weapons testing by Indian Air Force (IAF) pilots in Germany and the United Kingdom.
In addition to this most modern combat aircraft available on the world market, we offer an unrivalled industrial and technological partnership which meets India’s strategic goals: Choosing the Eurofighter Typhoon will catalyze the development of India’s domestic defence and aerospace industry, thereby considerably reducing its current dependence on imports.
Instead of remaining a mere buyer of the aircraft and its parts, we envision India as a future key supplier to the global Eurofighter Typhoon programme. As a true, new industrial partner, we would like India to co-develop and co-produce future capabilities for the Eurofighter Typhoon.
So you are confident that Eurofighter Typhoon is well placed to win?
Absolutely. Getting the best and most advanced combat aircraft technology on offer and partnering its further development – this is a great opportunity for India. Our value proposition is increasingly recognized in India, and our campaign is making constant progress. We are excited at the prospect of winning India as our next partner.
Which industrial benefits can India expect from the EPCs?
We have been very keen from the very beginning to win India as a new industrial partner for the Eurofighter consortium. Our ultimate objective is to win India as a key supplier, co-developing and co-producing future upgrades and enhancements, new sub-systems, software etc. for the Eurofighter Typhoon fleet. To enable India to manufacture the Eurofighter Typhoon itself and to become a globally important production and R&D partner, we are willing to offer a comprehensive Transfer of Technology (ToT).
What makes you so sure to be able to deliver on this ambitious industrial partnership promise?
Eurofighter Typhoon is the only truly international combat aircraft in the world: Europe’s leading defence companies – EADS, BAE, Systems, Finmeccanica – and more than 400 suppliers have pooled their core competences to create it. Our success is based on cross-border cooperation we live every day, by sharing sensitive technologies and know-how. It is precisely this spirit of mutual trust and technology sharing that we will extend to India, once it accepts our offer.
Even before the MMRCA tender is awarded and independent of a type selection, Cassidian, the security and defence division of EADS, has opened an Engineering Center in Bangalore. The fact that we are the first major defence and security company to transfer high value defence R&D to India underlines our trust in and our commitment to India as a partner.
Cassidian plans to ramp up the headcount at its Indian defence Engineering Center to over 200 engineers by the end of next year. This is just the beginning. The economic benefits of our industrial partnership approach are substantial: We estimate that choosing the Eurofighter Typhoon would create more than 20,000 high skilled jobs in India, boosting its domestic defence and aerospace industry.
Which political and strategic benefits can the EPCs offer India?
India’s MMRCA tender is of high strategic importance for its government. It intends to use this large tender for political benefits which will boost India’s long term security. On this count, too, we deliver outstanding values:
Our four European partner governments do not demand end-user monitoring, site-inspections or any other agreements which compromise India’s sovereignty. India is free to use the Eurofighter Typhoon as it sees fit.
Several other reasons make the Eurofighter Typhoon the best choice for safeguarding India’s strategic autonomy and sovereignty. Its choice will elevate India’s strategic relationship with Germany, the United Kingdom, Spain and Italy and their armed forces to a completely new level. And it will strengthen India’s domestic defence industry through deep ToT, boosting India’s capability to protect itself with its own technologies.
Why do you think Eurofighter Typhoon is the right aircraft for the Indian Air Force?
I have no doubt that we will deliver un-matched values to the IAF and is uniquely suited to meet its requirements. It is the most advanced multi-role fighter India can buy and the latest technology fighter aircraft on offer for the MMRCA. The aircraft entered into service a few years ago and has a life span of 40 years ahead.
Eurofighter Typhoons delivered to the IAF will be the latest Tranche 3 aircraft with state of the art electronic warfare sensors and communication systems. With its proven multi-role combat capability, this combat aircraft will provide the IAF with air superiority and with sophisticated ground attack capabilities. Eurofighter Typhoon comes with a comprehensive weapons payload, high armament flexibility and the capability to effectively respond in a wide variety of combat missions.
Another key reason why the IAF will benefit from the EurofighterTyphoon is cost: Maintenance, servicing and operating cost can easily exceed the intial purchase price of an aircraft over time. This may render a seemingly economical aircraft very expensive in the long run. Eurofighter Typhoon was designed for low-life cycle costs. Its airframe is made of over 80% composites, incorporating new-age materials like carbon fibre composites (CFC), glass-reinforced plastic, special alloys, etc. and deploys cutting edge component design to boost performance while at the same time maximize life. Longer component life makes the aircraft less maintenance intensive which results in significant cost savings.
What are the next steps of the MMRCA selection process?
The Field Evaluation Trials in which our aircraft demonstrated its multi-role prowess to the IAF concluded earlier this year. They were first conducted in Bangalore, Jaisalmer and Leh. Weapon trials were then held in Germany and in the United Kingdom. Now the Indian Ministry of Defence (MoD) has to analyze the IAF’s flight trials report. It is also studying offset proposals submitted by all vendors. After this exercise, we expect the opening of the commercial bids followed by price negotiations with those vendors which will be short-listed.
How important is Aero India 2011 for the campaign in India?
Aero India is one of the outstanding Air Shows for defence aviation in Asia. During Aero India 2009 Eurofighter Typhoon had a significant presence and we plan to continue with that this year. Aero India brings together vendors, customers and political decision-makers and enables a lively, free exchange of ideas and information. This year’s edition coincides with a critical phase of India’s MMRCA tender and our campaign. This makes Aero India 2011 an extremely important event for us and we look forward to being there.
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