Peter La Franchi/CANBERRA
British Aerospace has unveiled in Australia plans for the relocation of major software development activities linked to the Eurofighter EF2000 Typhoon as part of the creation of a new Military Aircraft Systems group to be based in Melbourne, Victoria. The company is attempting to sell the Typhoon to the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF).
The new group, to be connected with BAe Australia, is to employ up to 250 software and aerospace engineering personnel. It will support development work on mission system software for BAe Hawks and Panavia Tornados.
The plans propose the development of a new A$USD35 million (USD21.8 million) aircraft design centre in the Melbourne area. The company says that the design group will pursue business opportunities in Australia and South-East Asia. The group is also expected to sell services back to its UK parent.
Work is expected to start early next year, initially covering weapon pylon activities as part of the upgrade of Royal Air Force BAe Nimrod maritime patrol aircraft.
The creation of the Australian Military Aircraft Systems group follows last month's appointment of Peter Anstiss, formerly head of BAe Military Aircraft at Warton, to head operations in Australia.
BAe has been promoting the Typhoon in Australia and Singapore for more than a year. The company was issued last year with a formal request for information by the RAAF on the cost of up to two squadrons of aircraft to replace the existing Boeing F/A-18A/B fleet. An upgrade and life extension programme on the current fleet is another possibility.
Source: Flight International
