Austria has resolved a fierce dispute over its air force acquisition of Eurofighter Typhoon interceptors, with the announcement last week of a compromise deal that will reduce to 15 the number of aircraft to be delivered and cut programme costs by €370 million ($497 million).
Signed in August 2003, Vienna's original contract was for 18 Typhoons worth €2 billion, but the programme had been under review and the facing threat of possible cancellation since the establishment of a new government early this year. However, the coalition administration has now agreed to proceed with the deal with the removal of three aircraft and the delivery of all remaining examples in the Eurofighter programme's final Tranche 1 production standard.
The development has cleared the way for the delivery of the Austrian air force's first Typhoon to Zeltweg airbase, with the fighter having been ready for delivery for some weeks after performing its first flight in March.
A second example will make its flight debut in the near future, and another four are already in final assembly at EADS's Manching plant near Munich. Speaking before the resolution, Eurofighter chief executive Aloysius Rauen said: "We are fully on schedule with [Austrian] production, which is an important signal for other potential customers."
Austria is, meanwhile, expected to in the near future finalise a new in-service support contract for its reduced fleet of Typhoons, following the completion of negotiations with the four-nation Eurofighter consortium.
- Pictures: Flight debut for Austrian air force's first Eurofighter Typhoon
- Eurofighter Typhoon special
Source: Flight International
