The technical testing of new fighters to Swiss army enters into the crucial Phase. This week, the first is tested by five candidates for the succession of the F/A-18 in Payerne. It is the Eurofighter, which is yesterday landed in the UK Version on the biggest Swiss military airfield. At the same time Responsible of the air force, SC and the defence Department of the exact procedure in the testing described in Bern.
The most interesting Information concerned the political part of the selection process and not the technical. Christian Catrina, the delegate of the Secretary of defense for the procurement of Air in 2030, a first Echo to the Expertise of the former fighter jet pilots and astronauts Claude Nicollier. Barely in office, commissioned the new VBS Director Viola Amherd Nicollier with the opinion of independent experts, to be able to personally.
Nicollier confirmed the assessments
Catrina said, it’s a recent debate between Amherd and Nicollier. This I found after reading of existing reports and assessments, “no fundamental difference”. Thus, it appears that Nicolliers independent second opinion will not differ fundamentally from the present estimates from the army and air force circles to the military threat and the possible responses to it. Nicollier will pass his findings up to the end of the month Amherd.
A delay in the technical Evaluation Catrina is not expected therefore. Afterwards, the plan is lagging in time but in contrast, the political decision-making. The types of choice of the Federal Council is now recognised by the end of 2020, beginning in 2021 to “variable,” said Catrina.
it became Clear yesterday that the technical Evaluation has already started weeks ago – in a foreign country. 20 experts from Switzerland, visited bases in the producer countries. Have collected the Swiss data for the logistics and operation of the Jets. Already missions in flight simulators completed. This to decide, today more knowledge than at the last Evaluation ten years ago. Bernhard Berset, Sub-project leader for the testing of the Jets, said that the use of simulators, the manufacturers made it possible to reduce the number of actual flown missions in Switzerland. A third of the flight tests in Switzerland in comparison to the last testing needed.
in Switzerland, all test flights will be carried out, after presentation of the Relevant reasons. In her focus on the Sensors that are attached to the Jets in the next few weeks. These were in the mountainous Switzerland may be different. Berset also said that the next few weeks to validate the information provided by the manufacturer. The Swiss check, so to speak, whether the information is correct in the prospectus.
Federal Council shall take the types of choice
According to the Ambassador Catrina all applicants who invest at their own cost several million for testing in Switzerland have exactly the same opportunities. There is today no preferences. In a first Phase, it should be because no direct comparisons among the five types. It is the Eurofighter (Airbus, Germany), the F/A-18 Super Hornet (Boeing, USA), the Rafale (Dassault, France), the F-35A (Lockheed Martin, USA), and the Gripen E (Saab, Sweden).
Later this comparison is done very well. Darko Savic of the armor raiser Armasuisse and the project Manager for the new fighter aircraft, announced the Details in the schedule. After receiving the first offer the analysis and testing phase taking place now until June. From July until the end of 2019, the Swiss Tester reports their subject. Thereafter, a second request for proposal, at the end of 2019 to the provider.
From January to March 2020 is then recognised a further phase of negotiations. Afterwards, the evaluation of tender offers and comparison of the candidates until the end of next year. From this, the report and recommendation to the Federal Council, of the types of choice to.
(editing Tamedia)
Created: 08.04.2019, 23:04 PM
