Norway Ups Budget to Increase Eurofighter Industry Funding

PARIS, France and HALLBERGMOOS, Germany, June 15 (PRNewswire)

The Government of Norway is to increase funding levels for itsEurofighter Industrial participation programme by a further 12.5 millionEuros.

The current Industrial Participation Agreement (IPA) signed betweenindustry, Eurofighter GmbH and the Royal Norwegian Ministry of Defence isworth EUR 23.2 Million. This covers six ongoing contracts with variousNorwegian companies carrying out systems enhancement work on the Eurofighterprogramme.

One of the industrial beneficiaries of the new funding is EricssonNorway. Vice President Eldar Hauge said:

"We have a positive and open relationship with the Eurofighter team andthe additional support from the government allows us to develop that evenfurther. Our contract with Eurofighter involves developments in nextgeneration functionality of radar systems and is essential for bringing thetechnologies and skills necessary for our capabilities to develop in thisarea.

"Through our relationship with Eurofighter we get access to state of theart knowledge and experience and we are given the chance to bring best valueto the long term programme.

"This access to weapon system technology is vital for our ability tosupport the Royal Norwegian armed forces in the future. Without access tosuch technology national industries are unable to provide the levels ofsupport that their armed forces deserve."

Aloysius Rauen, CEO of Eurofighter GmbH welcomed the development sayingthat the increase in funding underlines Norway's commitment to developing itsrole within the Eurofighter partnership.

"We continue to agree contracts with stakeholders in Norway which willbring technology, jobs and enhanced aerospace engineering capability toindustry. As the capability of Eurofighter Typhoon develops throughout itsservice life, so the benefits in technology and capability will feed throughto Norway's industrial base. This is a long term partnership which embraces arange of stakeholders across Norway and the rest of Europe," he said.

Images

High Resolution images of the Eurofighter Typhoon can be downloaded fromour web site. Hard Copy images are available on request.

www.eurofighter.com/medialibrary

Notes to Editors:

Eurofighter Typhoon is the world's most advanced swing-role combataircraft, developed by the leading aerospace companies, Alenia Aeronautica,BAE SYSTEMS, EADS in Germany and EADS CASA, of the four partner countries,Italy, United Kingdom, Germany and Spain.

Agile and highly manoeuvrable, the twin-engine Eurofighter Typhoon isdesigned to operate from hastily prepared bases and small runways forworldwide operations. It is equipped with an advanced multi-mode radar and anextensive range of sensors and electronic countermeasures.

The aircraft's ability to gain air superiority beyond visual range (BVR)and in close combat, and at the same time deliver high sortie rates againstair, naval and ground targets in all weathers with a variety of weapons,demands close attention to pilot workload. In Eurofighter the pilot fliesthrough use of a computerised flight control system, which offers fullcarefree handling.

A strong emphasis has been placed on reducing cost of ownership inaddition to outstanding performance and flight safety. Eurofighter Typhoon isless expensive to operate than the generation of aircraft it is designed toreplace. In respect to the cost to performance relationship Eurofighter issecond to none of its competitors.

The Eurofighter partner nations plan to take delivery of 620 aircraft:180 for Germany, 121 for Italy, 87 for Spain and 232 for the United Kingdom.

An additional export order of 18 Eurofighter Typhoon has been signed with theGovernment of Austria.

The Royal Norwegian Ministry of Defence has agreed an industrialparticipation programme with Eurofighter GmbH for the future enhancement ofthe weapon system. Eurofighter Typhoon has also been selected by Greece tomeet its respective requirements for a future fighter.

Following Type Acceptance on 30 June, 2003, delivery of Series ProductionAircraft commenced to each of the four national air forces with entry intoservice declared in Spring of 2004.

With the signature of the Tranche 2 Production Contract on 14 December2004, Eurofighter received the production go-ahead for more than 400aircraft. Eurofighter Typhoon has the largest confirmed production contractorder book of any next generation fighter aircraft.

Contact: Wolfdietrich Hoeveler, Vice President Communication, EurofighterGmbH, +49-811-801-555 (Office) +49-170-855-0474 (Mobile),wolfdietrich.hoeveler@eurofighter.com

Mark Ritson, Head of Public Relations, Eurofighter GmbH, +49-811-801-555(Office), +49-172-893-21-47 (Mobile), mark.ritson@eurofighter.com

Source: Eurofighter GmbH

Wolfdietrich Hoeveler, Vice President Communication, Eurofighter GmbH, Tel: +49-811-801-555 (Office), Tel: +49-170-855-0474 (Mobile), wolfdietrich.hoeveler@eurofighter.com, Mark Ritson, Head of Public Relations, Eurofighter GmbH, Tel: +49-811-801-555 (Office), Tel: +49-172-893-21-47 (Mobile), mark.ritson@eurofighter.com

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