Austria confirms Eurofighter buy

                                                                                    Home

from http://www.defense-aerospace.com

VIENNA, July 2 (AFP) - 12:18 GMT - Austria has decided to buy 24 Eurofighter Typhoon combat planes for 1.791 billion euros (1.76 billion dollars), Austrian Chancellor Wolfgang Schuessel said after a cabinet meeting on Tuesday.
The airplane, which is made by a consortium comprised primarily of BAE Systems of Britain, The European Aeronautic Defence and Space Company and Alenia of Italy, beat out rival fighter jets made in the United States and Sweden.

US defence group Lockheed Martin was offering 30 F-16 A/B combat planes for about billion dollars while Swedish group Saab, in which BAE Systems has a 30 percent stake, had offered 24 JAS-39 Gripens for 20 billion kronorbillion euros, 2.17 billion dollars).

Last year, Austria launched an international tender for the replacement by 2005 of its 24 JAS-35 Draken and Saab-105 combat planes bought from Saab

from www.eurofighter.com

Eurofighter GmbH today announced they have been advised of a decision by the Austrian Federal Government to begin exclusive contract negotiations for the procurement of up to 24 Eurofighter Typhoon combat aircraft to meet a requirement of the Austrian Bundesheer for a next generation fighter. The expected value of the programme is in the region of €2 billion.

The decision by the Austrian Government follows an intense competition for the replacement of the existing Draken fleet that are approaching the end of their operational lives. The intention is to replace these aircraft with an advanced multi-role aircraft that will represent a quantum leap in capability for the Austrian Bundesheer.

The campaign for Austria has been led by EADS Military Aircraft on behalf of the Eurofighter Consortium comprising Alenia Aeronautica, BAE SYSTEMS, EADS-CASA and EADS-Deutschland.

Commenting on the announcement Aloysius Rauen, President and CEO of EADS Military Aircraft stated ‘The Eurofighter Consortium had put in place an offer for partnership that would provide significant capability enhancements for the Austrian Bundesheer combined with a long-term plan for production and high technology industry participation by Austrian industry.’

Bob Haslam, Managing Director Eurofighter commented ‘This announcement confirms Eurofighter at the heart of European Air Power. Based on the capabilities of four nations our ability to deliver an outstanding aircraft combined with a credible industrial partnership is unique.’

Eurofighter, together with the Eurofighter partner companies, will now begin detailed contract negotiations with representatives of the Austrian Federal Government, Austrian Bundesheer and Austrian industry with a view to formulating a contract for signature later in the year

Pictures of what the Austrian Eurofighter will look like :

Sources :                       

The pictures and text  displayed on this site I have found on the Internet or given to me by visitors. If these are copyrighted, let me know and I will remove them at once.