Eurofighter wins Tranche 2 enhancement contract

Package includes redesigned software to enable integration of new weapons

Eurofighter has been handed the long-awaited contract to develop the ground-attack capabilities demanded by customer nations for their Tranche 2 aircraft, after the German parliament finally gave its blessing to the €1.2 billion ($1.6 billion) deal last week.

The UK Royal Air Force, meanwhile, says its Typhoons will take on their first operational role by mid-year, providing quick reaction alert cover and progressively replacing Panavia Tornado F3s.

The phase one package of enhancements for Tranche 2 aircraft of the four Eurofighter nations incorporates a redesigned software architecture to enable integration of new weapons, including the Raytheon Systems Paveway IV precision-guided bomb for the UK, and the Raytheon EGBU-16 laser-guided bomb (LGB) for other nations, plus the BGT IRIS-T short-range air-to-air missile.

Eurofighter programme director Brian Phillipson says the deal - which had been due to be signed late last year - provides a "consistent product development strategy".

The customer nations are expected to decide within the next 12 months on the integration of MBDA's Meteor beyond-visual-range air-to-air missile during the latter stage of Tranche 2 production, Phillipson adds. Deliveries under the Tranche 2 production order are expected to begin in mid-2008, with the first development aircraft to fly later this year.

Eurofighter plans to start work on proposals for Phase 2 enhancements in the second half of 2007, focusing on integration of the MBDA Storm Shadow and Taurus Systems KEPD 350 stand-off weapons.

A Tranche 3 production contract should be signed in early 2009 to ensure deliveries from 2012, says Phillipson.

Spain last week received the first Tranche 1 Block 5 Eurofighter, the final build standard of the first production contract. Late-build Tranche 1 aircraft are also equipped for air-to-ground operations using Paveway II and GBU-10/16 LGBs, and the RAF will also receive Tranche 1 Eurofighters equipped with laser designator pods.

The UK's second operational Typhoon unit, 11 Sqn, reformed at Coningsby, Lincolnshire on 29 March.