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EADS Welcomes Signature of Production Contract for Second Tranche of Eurofighter Typhoons

(Source: EADS Military Aircraft; issued Dec. 17, 2004)

MUNICH, Germany — NETMA (NATO Eurofighter and Tornado Management Agency) and Eurofighter Jagdflugzeuge GmbH have signed the contract covering the second tranche of Eurofighter aircraft, announced the British Minister of Defence Geoffrey Hoon on Friday in London.

“For us, Eurofighter Tranche 2 is one of the most important orders in the area of defence this year,” commented Philippe Camus and Rainer Hertrich, the two CEOs of EADS, on the conclusion of the contract. “For EADS as one of the Eurofighter partner companies, this represents a contract volume of EUR 4.3 billion. At the same time, this contract improves the export chances of Eurofighter, a latest-generation high-tech combat aircraft that has already reached market maturity and underlines Europe’s capabilities in this area. The conclusion of the contract is a significant success for EADS and its Eurofighter consortium partners and also an outstanding step towards achieving the strategic aim we have set ourselves of further expanding our defence business over the coming years.”

Johann Heitzmann, CEO of the EADS Military Aircraft Business Unit, sees the achievements of the Eurofighter partners confirmed by the conclusion of this contract: “Several months of uncertainty regarding the continuation of the programme have been ended by the signing of the contract. We now have planning certainty for the production and development work that is to come. In particular also the small- and medium-sized companies that are suppliers to this programme will benefit from this.”

The Tranche 2 standard makes Eurofighter Typhoon the first European combat aircraft to satisfy the requirements of NATO and EU forces with regard to Network Enhanced Capabilities for all the air forces’ wide-ranging mission spectrums in their air-to-air and air-to-ground roles. The growth of the Tranche 2 aircraft’s operational capabilities is being achieved mainly thanks to new software and the integration of state-of-the-art armaments as specified by the national customers. The optimization process applying for Eurofighter shows that as a result of its “sensor to effector” systems house concept, EADS is well positioned to face technological challenges in this area.

Eurofighter Tranche 2 is the second of three elements in the umbrella contract that comprises a total of 620 aircraft for the four partner nations Great Britain, Germany, Spain and Italy. From tranche to tranche, an increasing degree of operational capability has been agreed for the aircraft.

Of the 236 aircraft in this second production batch, the German Air Force will receive 68 and the Spanish Air Force 33, which will undergo final assembly in the EADS manufacturing plants in Germany and Spain. Delivery is scheduled from spring 2008 onwards. In addition, Italy will receive 46 aircraft and Great Britain 89. A further 18 aircraft to Tranche 2 standard will be delivered to the first Eurofighter export customer Austria.

In the Military Aircraft Business Unit, which is an integrated part of the EADS Defence and Security Systems Division (DS), all EADS capabilities in the areas of high-performance combat aircraft, unmanned combat air vehicles (UCAVs), manned mission aircraft and training aircraft and the ground support equipment for these systems are concentrated.

With revenues of approx. EUR 5.2 billion in 2003 and roughly 24,000 employees across nine nations, DS forms the defence pole within EADS. It offers integrated systems solutions to the new challenges confronting armed forces and homeland security units. It is active in the areas of military aircraft, missile systems, Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) systems with manned and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), battlefield management systems, defence electronics, sensors and avionics, and related services.

EADS is a global leader in aerospace, defence and related services. In 2003, the Group generated revenues of EUR 30 billion and employed a workforce of more than 109,000. (ends)

British Industry Celebrates £5bn Order as Typhoon Reaches New Heights

(Source: BAE Systems; issued Dec. 17, 2004)

The Secretary of State for Defence, Mr Geoff Hoon, stood shoulder to shoulder with Britain’s defence aerospace industry today as he confirmed that a four-nation contract for the second batch of the world’s most advanced combat aircraft has been signed.

The contract – worth a total of 14Bn Euros across Europe – covers the supply of a further 236 aircraft to Europe’s leading Air Forces, and also brings forward operational capability planned for later variants of the aircraft to deliver a powerful swing-role aircraft far earlier than envisaged.

The commitment to Tranche 2 reflects the confidence generated by the aircraft’s outstanding performance as it has entered service with the RAF. At press conferences today at both the RAF’s first base to operate Typhoon, RAF Coningsby, and at BAE Systems Warton plant, the current home of Typhoon, the Secretary of State commented:

“I am delighted to announce the contract signature which will see the second tranche of Typhoon aircraft assembled at BAE Systems Warton. Warton has been manufacturing equipment for the RAF for many years, ranging from the Lightning to the Tornado and will play a vital role in the success of the Typhoon programme.

“This order is excellent news for British industry. The UK part of the Tranche 2 Typhoon order is worth £4.3 billion and not only underlines the Governments’s belief in the excellence of Warton’s BAE Systems workforce but more generally represents a vote of confidence in the UK aerospace industry.”

The contract represents a major milestone for both the Typhoon programme, and for UK Industry. BAE Systems, the UK’s largest defence contractor, holds responsibility for the design of many of the key systems of the cutting-edge Typhoon, manufactures major units including the front and rear fuselage, and will also assemble all 232 of the RAF’s aircraft. Rolls Royce, a 36% shareholder in Eurojet, the European consortium responsible for the EJ200 engine that powers Typhoon, produces the combustion system, high pressure turbine, intermediate casing and other components, and will also assemble, test and deliver 195 engines for the RAF.

The Tranche 2 contract is worth some £4.3Bn to BAE Systems and £750M to Rolls Royce, and at peak production, the Typhoon programme will help sustain 5,000 jobs at BAE Systems, 4,000 throughout Rolls Royce and its supply chain and up to 16,000 in total the UK aerospace industry.

Speaking at the press conference, Mike Turner, Chief Executive of BAE Systems emphasised the importance of programmes like Typhoon to the UK’s ability to maintain and enhance the technology, skills and capabilities required to fulfil both industry’s and Government’s future requirements. He praised the performance of both the aircraft and the workforce, commenting:

“Seeing Typhoon make such an impressive entrance to its service life has been just reward for our employees, and for those who work tirelessly in the supply chain to support us. This superb product is one of which our workforce can be justifiably proud. The Tranche Two contract represents many months of hard work, and is a clear and balanced result. I must thank all those who have worked so hard to bring us here.”

He was joined by Colin Green, President of Rolls-Royce Defence Aerospace, who added “We are obviously delighted to finalise this agreement which brings stability to our future production and underpins around 4000 high skilled jobs for Rolls-Royce and its supply chain. The EJ200 engine is already earning plaudits for its performance from the RAF and we are achieving landmark availability levels both through its superior design and our innovative support activities.”

BAE Systems has major operations across five continents and customers in some 130 countries. The company has more than 90,000 people and generates annual sales of approximately £12 billion through its wholly owned and joint venture operations.

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homeland defence system :S when did that come about ?

Matt
Your actually right, but the main point we were trying to make here is a like to likr comparison with PAF ROSE strike mirages, which are not onlu heavily upgraded and have radar and NVG, thingd the IAF Jag fleet lack at the momment….

So i dont get what you guys are arguing about not you alone but the others.

The JAG DOES THE JOB IT WAS SUPPOSED TO, and has been proven in COMBAT!

the RAF jags arent that much more advanced then IAF ones and they have not done badly..

Why upgrad for the sake of upgrading ?

The photo’s I have put up here are with a canon eos300D with the standard 70-300 EOS lense, as thats what I had at the time……saving up for the 100-400mm IS lense 🙂

guys, you should check out the forums at http://www.fencecheck.com

ooh EF lense? hmm so thats like 85-4XX with the crop the 300D gives i am hopefully getting the 75-300 next with along with a 50mm for the portrait work i do.

Coanda how did you get photos of the gripen ? farnborough? i didnt see it at RIAT.. (still majorly dissapointed by that one.) .

SOC nice pic of the Mustang i have one like that but with F-15 from lakenheath i think .. (RIAT 04)… I used a Z2 so its not as sharp and also as closly croped as that, that will change next year with the help of my 300D

can you get any engines in the west that are compatible with the SU-30? maybe the F-14’s one?

doesnt sweden export bofors to India? or parts for it still ?

as for building them in India, i doubt it. Its not only the avionics that are special in the gripen but things like the flight suite too..

well id still like to see the gripen in the IAF inventory