EUROJET Turbo GMBH, the consortium behind the EJ200 engine that powers the Eurofighter Typhoon, signed a new contract today with the NATO Eurofighter & Tornado Management Agency (NETMA). According to the agreement, EUROJET will deliver up to 54 new EJ200 engines to the Italian Air Force as part of the Tranche I Eurofighter replacement.
The agreement, which signals renewed interest in the program, follows closely on the heels of last year’s Spanish Halcon II contract. The contract was finalized in Rome with the signatures of Air Vice Marshal (AVM) Simon Ellard (ret.), NETMA’s Director-General, and Ralf Breiling, CEO of EUROJET.
As with all EJ200 engines, the production of engine modules will be conducted by the four partner companies of EUROJET: Rolls Royce, MTU Aero Engines, ITP Aero, and Avio Aero. The final engine assembly will be performed by the Italian partner, Avio Aero.
Ralf Breiling, CEO of EUROJET, expressed his enthusiasm after the signing: This agreement, coming so soon after the acquisition of the Spanish Halcon II, underlines the Nations’ strong and continued confidence in the EJ200 engine and the Eurofighter platform, and strengthens our European cooperation in the field of defence. The EJ200 is a tested and world-class engine that significantly boosts the Eurofighter Typhoon’s performance, speed, and efficiency. The Italian order further consolidates the vital partnership between government and industry, ensuring ongoing technological leadership in defense for the Italian nation.
AVM Simon Ellard (ret.), Director General of NETMA, added: The new order for Italy is another tremendous result for the Eurofighter Programme. The order, following the recent signing of the Halcon II contract, marks a new era for the Programme and demonstrates the importance of the Eurofighter Typhoon for Europe’s collective security. The EJ200 engine continues to provide superior performance for the Eurofighter, giving the aircraft the power necessary to protect the skies above Italy and the Eastern flank of NATO.
For his part, Pierfederico Scarpa, VP Strategy, Marketing & Sales at Avio Aero, commented: The signing of this contract once again confirms the success of the Eurofighter program and the international collaboration between the EUROJET partners. It is a result built over the years thanks also to a reliable and high-performance propulsion system. As Avio Aero, we will contribute to the production of some modules and the assembly of the EJ200 engines intended for the new aircraft, and we are proud to continue to put our capabilities, skills, and innovative technologies at the service of the Italian Air Force. This order will also have positive impacts in terms of technology and job creation for the entire country and, in particular, for the territories where we operate.
Source: Eurojet and Avio Aero
Photo: Credit @Eurojet
