The head of Airbus’s weapons division still expects a longer chip shortage. The topic will guide the industry for another two years, Mike Schöllhorn of Reuters news agency said at the ILA air show in Berlin. The aviation industry is affected later than the auto industry, and the military sector later because of the small quantities, “but at some point it will hit us too”.
The industry has also sourced titanium from Russia in the past. “Here we are looking at other sources, it will take some time this year,” said Schöllhorn. However, his company still has sufficient stock for the current year.
Weapons manufacturers anticipate growth spurt
Airbus’s weapons division has long been considered a problem child. But it has an anchor function for the group, Schöllhorn said, and is developing countercyclically. In addition, a higher growth in government expenditure on armaments is expected after the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
41 billion euros just for the air force
The German government has – see video – launched a special program worth 100 billion euros for the Bundeswehr, of which 41 billion euros for the air force. Schöllhorn said he expects Airbus to run into the tens of billions. However, it is still too early to give a specific figure.
The company is in the running for a light support helicopter and the Eurofighter will also be equipped for electronic combat. For nuclear parts, on the other hand, the German government has opted for the F-35 from the American manufacturer Lockheed Martin.
Major Eurofighter order from Spain
Meanwhile, Spain has ordered 20 Eurofighter aircraft from the European group. According to Airbus, the planes should be delivered from 2026. The deal is worth more than two billion euros and, in addition to the aircraft and engines, includes a simulator and the necessary maintenance.
Source: Krone
I’m Wayne Wickman, a professional journalist and author for Today Times Live. My specialty is covering global news and current events, offering readers a unique perspective on the world’s most pressing issues. I’m passionate about storytelling and helping people stay informed on the goings-on of our planet.
