20 July 2006 - Eurofighter Typhoon capability soars ahead with latest contract
Farnborough/Hallbergmoos – The Eurofighter Typhoon development programme took a major step forward at the Farnborough International Airshow today with Eurofighter GmbH and the NATO Eurofighter and Tornado Management Agency (NETMA) signing a contract for the integration of a Laser Designator Pod (LDP) and the Enhanced Paveway II Laser Guided Bomb on Royal Air Force Typhoons.
Aloysius Rauen, CEO of Eurofighter GmbH and Peter Worrall, NETMA General Manager, signed the contract at the Show where Typhoon has been delighting the crowds with a daily display of its agility and power in the air, carrying a full swing role weapons load. Both signatories agreed that the deal takes the programme to its next level in terms of operational capability.
Aloysius Rauen said: “With this new contract we will boost Eurofighter Typhoon’s capabilities beyond the contracted Tranche 1 performance. It will definitely make the aircraft even more attractive to potential export customers. Already in Tranche 1 the integration of Paveway II, GBU-10 and GBU-16 is proving Eurofighter Typhoon’s outstanding swing role performance. 13 hard points for weapons and fuel tanks, including a standard configuration of four medium range and two short range air-to-air missiles, plus the gun, with possibilities for up to six LGBs and external fuel tanks make Eurofighter Typhoon superior to other competitors claiming to be next generation fighter aircraft.”
Peter Worrall OBE added: “This is a very exciting time for the Eurofighter partnership. The air forces are seeing the capability of their aircraft being consistently enhanced in line with the requirements of the development programme. This latest agreement is great news for all of the Eurofighter stakeholders.”
The “Austere” capability will be available to the Royal Air Force for entry into service in the first half of 2008. Initially the necessary hardware and software will be integrated into Block 5 aircraft and the Royal Air Force intends to retrofit the full Block 5 capability to other Tranche 1 aircraft. The Laser Designator Pod will be carried on the centre fuselage station, so all four under-fuselage missile stations will be available for the full air-to-air fit.
