Export sales of more than 400 Eurofighters are now being predicted by its manufacturers in the wake of the recent "milestone" Greek decision to buy the advanced combat aircraft.
"We are in fact revising our estimates upwards and the 400 now looks to be conservative," says Mike Rudd, British Aerospace's director of new business.
Critical
"Our export campaign is reaching a critical mass. We have been selected by Greece and we expect the contract for 60 to 90 aircraft to be signed by the end of the year.
"We have good prospects in Norway, where they want 20 to 30 aircraft and have had a request for proposals from South Korea which is looking for an estimated 40-plus aircraft.
"We have also had requests for information from the Czech Republic, the Netherlands and Poland. There are also good prospects in Australia and Singapore."
Rudd says the surge in interest largely due to growing confidence in the programme after Germany, Italy, Spain and the UK ordered 628 aircraft last year, with the international manufacturing consortium still on target to deliver its first aircraft to the Royal Air Force in 2002.
Prospective customers now recognised that the Eurofighter was a "special weapon system", says Rudd and their inquiries no longer centred on the aircraft's capabilities.
"Questions are focussing more on integrated logistic support issues. There is a recognition of tightening defence budgets."
Source: Flight Daily News