BAE places Eurofighter parts contract in SA

Posted on: Aug. 4th, 2006 || Source: engineeringnews.co.za | E-mail Article | Print Article

South African aerostructures manufacturing and aviation engineering group Aerosud has been awarded a $20-million contract by UK defence giant BAE Systems to produce components for the Eurofighter Typhoon, a fourth-generation swing-role fighter.

This makes Aerosud the first company from a country which has not ordered the Typhoon to become an industrial supplier to the programme.

The contract is set to run for at least six-and-a-half years and will involve the manufacture of up to 3 500 detail parts and minor assemblies for the Typhoon.

“Aerosud is increasingly recognised as a leader in the South African industry, but this new Typhoon order from BAE Systems adds to our credibility and supports our ambition to become established as a strong, reliable and credible supplier of niche services and products in an increasingly competitive global market,” says Aerosud MD Dr Paul Potgieter.

Aersoud has had a strategic relationship with BAE Systems since 2004.

“While strengthening our partnership with Aerosud, this contract also illustrates BAE Systems' ability to deliver new export business opportunities to the South African industry,” asserts BAE Systems CEO South Africa Mike O'Callaghan.

“Not only are we fulfilling our industrial participation (IP) obligations arising from the Hawk and Gripen procurements, but this partnership goes much further, acting as a catalyst for growth in South Africa's aerospace industry beyond the parameters of our IP programme,” he affirms.

Eurofighter is a consortium formed by BAE Systems, Alenia Aeronautica of Italy, and the German and Spanish units of the European Aeronautic, Defence and Space company (EADS).

The Typhoon is Europe's biggest defence contract, and, so far, more than 400 are on firm order, with a total requirement of nearly 640. The aircraft will become the backbone of the UK Royal Air Force (RAF), Germany's Luftwaffe, Italy's Aeronautica Militare, Spain's Ejercito del Aire, and Austria's Luftstreitkräfte.

It is planned that the RAF will acquire 232 Typhoons, the Luftwaffe 180, the Aeronautica Militare 121, the Ejercito del Aire 87, and the Luftstreitkräfte 18, the Austrian order being the first export order for the aircraft.

The Typhoon is larger, heavier, more powerful but also much more expensive than the Saab Gripen, the fourth-generation swing-role fighter selected to re-equip the South African Air Force.
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