The Watcher
New Member
Safety alert over Eurofighter
Safety problems with the RAF'S new £43million Eurofighter put it at risk of a disastrous and irrecoverable loss of control in flight, according to a classified Ministry of Defence report leaked to the Standard.
The report, produced three weeks ago, says the problems are so serious that the aircraft should not fly in cloud or perform "dynamic manoeuvres" such as those required in aerial combat unless it carries a second, fully-trained safety pilot.
The document says there is an "unquantifiable risk" that computer problems could cause a "catastrophic" failure of the aircraft in flight.
The verdict is another serious blow to the troubled Eurofighter programme - already beset by massive delays, cost overruns and political controversy. It comes in the official "release to service recommendations" report produced for the Eurofighter on 30 April by Qinetiq, the evaluation arm of the Ministry of Defence.
Qinetiq pilots spent eight months testing the aircraft in order to reach their verdict. They say Eurofighter can be released to RAF service, but only subject to severe restrictions and only once the safety issues they have exposed are investigated.
In the report, Qinetiq says it has found three "key issues" on the Eurofighter which it considers to be "extremely significant with regard to aircraft safety" and "unacceptable for release to service".
Like many of the latest generation of combat aircraft, Eurofighter is inherently unstable and relies on sophisticated flight-control computers to keep it in the air. However, the report finds that one key system - designed to alert the pilot when the aircraft is going too slowly - is inadequate. The result, says the report, is an "unacceptable" risk of "departure" - a complete and irrevocable-loss of control which would destroy the aircraft. Eurofighter is supposed to be equipped with a much-delayed system to prevent this, but until it is ready, Qinetiq says, each aircraft must be operated by two qualified pilots whenever flying "dynamic manoeuvres" such as those used in combat.
The Standard repeatedly asked the Ministry of Defence what action had been taken to investigate, understand and rectify the fault, but received no specific reply. The MoD did, however, issue a statement saying: "Advice from Qinetiq identified areas requiring further work in order to minimise the risk to safe flying operations. As a result of this report the Eurofighter Typhoon was modified, procedures reviewed and limitations applied."
RAF sources said some of the recommendations raised by Qinetiq had been accepted. Others, such as the limitation on flying in cloud, had not because they were not regarded as serious. Sources at the MoD and the aircraft's manufacturer, BAE Systems, said the risk with the landing-gear computer was "infinitesimal" enough to be acceptable and had not caused any limitations on the aircraft.
When it finally enters full service, Eurofighter will become the cornerstone of the RAF's fleet.
But the safety problems identified by Qinetiq risk further serious hold-ups in what is already one of the MoD's most delayed projects, running four and a half years late and £2.3billion above its original cost.
Source
Safety problems with the RAF'S new £43million Eurofighter put it at risk of a disastrous and irrecoverable loss of control in flight, according to a classified Ministry of Defence report leaked to the Standard.
The report, produced three weeks ago, says the problems are so serious that the aircraft should not fly in cloud or perform "dynamic manoeuvres" such as those required in aerial combat unless it carries a second, fully-trained safety pilot.
The document says there is an "unquantifiable risk" that computer problems could cause a "catastrophic" failure of the aircraft in flight.
The verdict is another serious blow to the troubled Eurofighter programme - already beset by massive delays, cost overruns and political controversy. It comes in the official "release to service recommendations" report produced for the Eurofighter on 30 April by Qinetiq, the evaluation arm of the Ministry of Defence.
Qinetiq pilots spent eight months testing the aircraft in order to reach their verdict. They say Eurofighter can be released to RAF service, but only subject to severe restrictions and only once the safety issues they have exposed are investigated.
It is understood, however, that the Assistant Chief of the Air Staff, Air Vice Marshal David Walker, approved the Eurofighter's release to service on 13 May, two weeks after receiving the report.
In the report, Qinetiq says it has found three "key issues" on the Eurofighter which it considers to be "extremely significant with regard to aircraft safety" and "unacceptable for release to service".
Like many of the latest generation of combat aircraft, Eurofighter is inherently unstable and relies on sophisticated flight-control computers to keep it in the air. However, the report finds that one key system - designed to alert the pilot when the aircraft is going too slowly - is inadequate. The result, says the report, is an "unacceptable" risk of "departure" - a complete and irrevocable-loss of control which would destroy the aircraft. Eurofighter is supposed to be equipped with a much-delayed system to prevent this, but until it is ready, Qinetiq says, each aircraft must be operated by two qualified pilots whenever flying "dynamic manoeuvres" such as those used in combat.
Qinetiq adds that "corruption" of the aircraft's flight-control computer system means it could suddenly switch from " inflight" mode to "ground" mode while in the air. This, says the report, "would be immediately catastrophic", almost certainly meaning the pilot would lose control and crash. The test pilots add: "This fault cannot be mitigated. It is therefore recommended as essential that the cause(s) of this fault are investigated, understood, and, if necessary, rectified before release to service."
The Standard repeatedly asked the Ministry of Defence what action had been taken to investigate, understand and rectify the fault, but received no specific reply. The MoD did, however, issue a statement saying: "Advice from Qinetiq identified areas requiring further work in order to minimise the risk to safe flying operations. As a result of this report the Eurofighter Typhoon was modified, procedures reviewed and limitations applied."
RAF sources said some of the recommendations raised by Qinetiq had been accepted. Others, such as the limitation on flying in cloud, had not because they were not regarded as serious. Sources at the MoD and the aircraft's manufacturer, BAE Systems, said the risk with the landing-gear computer was "infinitesimal" enough to be acceptable and had not caused any limitations on the aircraft.
When it finally enters full service, Eurofighter will become the cornerstone of the RAF's fleet.
But the safety problems identified by Qinetiq risk further serious hold-ups in what is already one of the MoD's most delayed projects, running four and a half years late and £2.3billion above its original cost.
Source
, there are still Couputer and weapon Mod being done do teh Jet its still Underhoing testing and i think its still Only Air defese at the Moment the F3 staus is where the Jet can perform Swing roles AIR LAND SEA i think :?