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Industry Welcomes UK Decision on Tranche 3 Agreement

Dépèche transmise le 14 mai 2009 par PRNewswire

HALLBERGMOOS, Germany, May 14 /PRNewswire/ -- The Eurofighter consortium welcomes today's decision of the United Kingdom to participate in the third production tranche of Eurofighter Typhoon. The UK is the last member of the four nations Eurofighter consortium that have confirmed a final draft contract, negotiated between the industrial consortium and the NATO Eurofighter Tornado Management Agency NETMA. Finalisation of this contractual document will now be implemented by Eurofighter GmbH and NETMA and will address significant through-life savings as expected by the partner nations. Signature is expected before the summer break.

Enzo Casolini, Eurofighter GmbH CEO, commented: "The agreement that the UK have confirmed today sends a clear signal of customer commitment. The funding put forward by the four partner nations in this programme provides to the nations important capabilities and a strong trade balance bonus. When I speak about returns I mean tangibles ones, like the invaluable capabilities developed by the partner companies through technology transfer and the spin-off we guarantee to other industrial sectors. I also recognise the security of work and the growth in knowledge and in education for many within Europe.

"This agreement" - Casolini says - "will strengthen Eurofighter Typhoon leading position in the market."

The overall value of contract under negotiation will be in the region of EUR8 billion.

The authorisation for Tranche 3 production and capabilities will have a tremendous effect on the export potential of Eurofighter Typhoon. Having already secured two export contracts with Austria in 2003 and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in 2007, the Eurofighter partner companies are actively pursuing campaigns in Switzerland, India, Japan, Romania, Greece, Turkey and exploring possible opportunities in Bulgaria and Croatia. With the production of Eurofighter Typhoon now being confirmed until the later part of the next decade and the agreed new capabilities, Eurofighter Typhoon confirms itself as the most advanced real multi-role fighters available on the market.

Background information:

Eurofighter Typhoon is the world's most advanced new generation real multi-role/swing-role combat aircraft available on the market and has been ordered by six nations (Germany, Italy, Spain, United Kingdom, Austria and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia). With 707 aircraft under contract, it is Europe's largest military collaborative programme and delivers leading-edge technology, strengthening Europe's aerospace industry in the global competition. More than 100,000 jobs in 400 companies are secured by the programme. Eurofighter Jagdflugzeug GmbH manages the programme on behalf of the Eurofighter Partner Companies: Alenia Finmeccanica, BAE Systems, EADS CASA and EADS Deutschland, Europe's foremost aerospace companies with a total turnover of approx. EUR88 billion (2008).

High Resolution images of the Eurofighter Typhoon can be downloaded from our web site:

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For More Information contact: Marco Valerio Bonelli Head of PR & Communications Tel.: +49-811-80-1555 Fax: +49-811-80-1557 Mobile: +49-172-842 6017 mail: marco-valerio.bonelli@eurofighter.com Kathryn Coates External Communications Tel: +49-(0)811-80-1587 Mob: +49-(0)172-88-12110 Fax: +49-(0)811-80-1557 Mail: Kathryn.Coates@Eurofighter.com

CONTACT: For More Information contact: Marco Valerio Bonelli, Head of PR &Communications, Tel.: +49-811-80-1555, Fax: +49-811-80-1557, Mobile:+49-172-842 6017, mail: ; KathrynCoates, External Communications, Tel: +49-(0)811-80-1587, Mob:+49-(0)172-88-12110, Fax: +49-(0)811-80-1557, Mail: