Striking back at 'irritating' press speculation of cutbacks in the Eurofighter programme, the company has claimed the United Kingdom's ongoing Strategic Defence Review may result in additional aircraft being bought.
Eurofighter managing director Brian Phillipson said at the show yesterday that the UK's requirement for 232 aircraft was "firm" and not part of the review.
"As a result of the review process, there may be a requirement for more Eurofighters than the figures given in the Memorandum of Understanding between the four partner nations," says Phillipson.
"We are looking at tens of aircraft to take over the role of Britain's existing BAe Harrier GR.7s for close air support."
Phillipson's comments were backed by Lord Gilbert, the UK's Minister of Defence Procurement, who took the unusual step at the show yesterday of denouncing the reports in other Dubai '97 newspapers - which suggested the UK government had changed policy - as "complete rubbish."
With Italian parliamentary approval expected today, Phillipson says he is "tremendously" confident that a production contract will be signed in December. "An order for 620 aircraft would really be a launch pad for the export market."
He adds that his company's bid to sell the Eurofighter to the UAE Air Force is "-going very well", with the customer impressed with the aircraft.
Source: Flight Daily News