This facility is currently producing the fourth tranche of Eurofighters for Luftwaffe, but the last of 38 aircraft will be delivered in 2030. Therefore, Thomas Pretzl, Chairman of the Central Works Council said a contract for the fifth tranche must be concluded quickly. According to him, Airbus management should ensure that the Federal Government of the “Zeitenwende” does not end its term of office without Tranche 5 being signed and sealed.
Airbus plans that its Manching site will be significantly involved in the sixth-generation fighter programme – Future Combat Air Systems (FCAS). The contract for the next tranche of Eurofighters will be an economic and technological bridge to FCAS.
According to Thomas Pretzl, the future F-35 fighters of the German Air Force also would have to be serviced in the Airbus Defence and Space facility in Manching to preserve the jobs. In addition, the engineering team is to develop the connectivity, i.e. the communication between the Eurofighter and F-35, in Manching.
The Chairman of the Central Works Council emphasizes the company plans to hire 600 additional skilled workers at the Manching site. Moreover, Airbus plans to employ a total of 3,500 people in Germany this year.
