Defence Ministers from participating nations meet in Italy to
discuss the pan-Europe Eurofighter Typhoon programme.
From the UK, the Minister for Defence Procurement, KC, joined the cohort in Milan
to discuss on-going cooperation on the programme – a joint
venture between UK, Germany, Spain and Italy, under the
governance of NATO.
They discussed existing Eurofighter export campaigns and ongoing
investment in the aircraft to further increase its military
capability in the coming years.
As previously announced,
Typhoon fighter jets are to be fitted with the world’s most
advanced radar – as part of a £2.35 billion investment and the
programme continues to support more than 20,000 jobs throughout
the UK.
Showcasing the successes of defence collaboration between allied
nations, the Eurofighter Typhoon continues to be a highly
capable, combat proven, air defence and ground attack aircraft
with a range of world-beating capabilities.
Minister for Defence Procurement, KC, said:
The Eurofighter Typhoon continues to be a world-beating aircraft
and that is thanks to the strong and enduring relationship we
have with our partners on the programme.
I am reassured by their commitment and look forward to further
strengthening those ties in Combat Air Capability.
With 137 serving with the RAF, the Eurofighter Typhoon forms the
backbone of the UK’s combat air capability. It entered service in
2003 and is planned to remain in service until at least 2040.
The fighter has been vital to UK operations in air-policing in
Estonia, Op SHADER in the Middle East, quick reaction alerts at
home and in the Falkland Islands, as well as working with the
Qatari Emirati Airforce to provide air-security at the FIFA World
Cup 2022
The UK’s defence cooperation with Italy extends further than the
Eurofighter Typhoon programme. The UK and Italy have a proven
50-year track record of working closely together on Combat
Aircraft development.
Last year, the Prime Minister announced that the UK,
Italy and Japan would form an international coalition to develop
the next generation of combat aircraft through the Global Combat
Air Programme (GCAP).
Combat air capabilities will remain vital to controlling
airspace, helping protect our nations, our allies and our
interests worldwide, and making a vital contribution to our
overall military capability across all domains.
