Abu Dhabi: The European consortium-built Eurofighter Typhoon fighter jet is getting a €200 million (Dh836 million) air-to-surface weapons upgrade, it was announced in Abu Dhabi on Sunday.
The contract, known as Phase 3 Capability Enhancement, will see Britain’s Royal Air Force equip its Typhoons with the latest Brimstone air-to-surface attack missiles that are designed to hit fast-moving targets. Britain’s Tornado fighter jets, which are set to retire in 2019, have used the missiles in Afghanistan and Iraq.
The enhancement was announced at a signing ceremony at the International Defence Exhibition and Conference (IDEX) that included Eurofighter chief Alberto Gutierrez.
This is an important milestone on the capability, Gutierrez said though declined to answer questions from the press.
The Eurofighter is built by a consortium owned by BAE Systems, Airbus Group and Finmeccanica. The Brimstone missiles are produced by MBDA, a European missile group owned by the same companies.
The Eurofighter has struggled to land international sales with it so far winning just the two export customer — Saudi Arabia ordered 72 in 2007 and Oman ordered 12 in 2012. The UAE signalled that it was no longer interested in late 2013 despite a whirlwind visit by British Prime Minister David Cameron who many believed tried to sure up the deal on the eve of the Dubai Airshow. The Eurofighter has also lost out on orders to rivals in India and Singapore in recent years.
British Defence Equipment Minister Philip Dunne, speaking to reporters in Abu Dhabi, said the upgrade was likely to attract interest in the Gulf but declined to comment on whether UAE negotiations could reopen.
“As far as other countries in the region are concerned I think this does make it a more attractive [jet],” he said.
The enhancement contact is scheduled for delivery in 2017, according to a Eurofighter statement.
