Singapore Airshow 2014: Diehl confident Germany ready to approve ground-attack Sidewinder
James Hardy, Singapore - IHS Jane's Defence Weekly
11 February 2014
Diehl BGT's Laser-Guided Sidewinder (LaGS) will enter service with the Luftwaffe in 2015-16 if the German government green-lights funds for its development, a company official told IHS Jane'sat the Singapore Airshow 2014.
Gerhard Dussler, head of marketing for Airborne Systems at Diehl BGT, said the programme to retool legacy AIM-9L Sidewinders for a ground-attack role was in the development phase but would move forward if, as expected, the German government provided funds. "Indications are strong and clear that the government will sign", he said.
Describing it as a "sexy solution" for the Eurofighter Typhoon, Dussler said international marketing for the LaGS programme, which modifies the AIM-9 Sidewinder air-to-air missile by replacing its infrared guidance system with a semi-active laser (SAL) seeker and guidance unit, would start once the German contract was signed.
http://www.janes.com/article/33824/singapore-airshow-2014-diehl-confident-germany-ready-to-approve-ground-attack-sidewinder
