Germany orders 38 Airbus Eurofighters

Airbus officials have signed a contract to deliver 38 new Eurofighter aircraft to the German Air Force in a deal estimated to be worth $6.35 billion. This makes Germany the largest ordering nation in Europe’s biggest defense program, which involves the United Kingdom, Spain, and Italy alongside Germany. The Eurofighter secures more than 100,000 jobs in Europe, according to Airbus.

The German Air Force order, known by its project name Quadriga, covers delivery of 30 single-seater and 8 twin-seater Eurofighters. Three of the aircraft will be equipped with additional test installations as Instrumented Test Aircraft for the further development of the Eurofighter program.

Airbus Defence and Space CEO Dirk Hoke said, “The new Tranche 4 Eurofighter is currently the most modern European-built combat aircraft with a service life well beyond 2060. Its technical capabilities will allow full integration into the European Future Combat Air System (FCAS).”

The renewed order from Germany secures production until 2030 and comes at a strategically important time for the program. Airbus expects a Eurofighter order from Spain to replace its legacy Boeing F/A-18s and favorable procurement decisions in Switzerland and Finland in 2021.

The variant Airbus is offering Switzerland corresponds to the configuration of the German Quadriga order. The equipment includes the latest electronic radar, future-proof hardware and software, and multi-role capability for engaging air and ground targets.