AFP, PARIS (AFP) Nov 11, 2003-The European Aeronautics Defence and Space Company (EADS) has proposed that EADS, BAE Systems of Britain and Alenia Aerospazio of Italy merge their activities devoted to construction of the Eurofighter aircraft, an EADS spokesman said on Tuesday.
“We have proposed the further integration of production to the governments but there are no other details at this stage,” a spokesman said, adding that the company is awaiting a response.
German business newspaper Handelsblatt reported Tuesday, quoting military sources in Berlin, that EADS had submitted a proposal to the four governments concerned (Germany, Spain, Britain and Italy) three weeks ago, suggesting that the Eurofighter production activities be more closely integrated.
The proposals come at a time when a debate is continuing about a combined order for 620 Eurofighter jets, which the four governments could find hard to finance.
The report also said the defence ministers of the four countries involved were to meet in early December in Britain in order to discuss orders for the fighter jet.
A merger of the Eurofighter businesses would help cut production costs and the final purchasing price of the aircraft, as well as facilitate the technical coordination of the project, Handelsblatt said.
Eurofighter aircraft have often been criticised for technical problems especially regarding a problem with landing gear hich grounded a whole series of the planes in Britain.
