Germany-based
Eurojet Turbo GmbH, the consortium behind the EJ200 engine that powers the Eurofighter Typhoon, has signed a new contract with the NATO Eurofighter and Tornado Management Agency (NETMA). Under this agreement, Eurojet will deliver up to 54 new EJ200 engines to the Italian Air Force as part of the Eurofighter Tranche I replacement. A renaissance of interest in the programme, it follows hot on the heels of the Spanish Halcón II contract announced at the end of last year.
As for all EJ200 engines, production of the engine modules will be carried out by Eurojet’s four partner companies —
Rolls-Royce,
MTU Aero Engines,
ITP Aero, and
Avio Aero. The Italian partner, Avio Aero, will carry out final engine assembly.
Eurojet’s CEO Ralf Breiling said: “This agreement, coming so soon after the Spanish Halcon II acquisition, underscores the strong, ongoing trust from the nations in the EJ200 engine and the Eurofighter platform and strengthens our European defence cooperation. The EJ200 is a proven, world-class engine that significantly enhances the capabilities of the Eurofighter Typhoon’s performance, range and overall operational efficiency. The Italian order further cements the vital partnership between government and industry, ensuring continued technological leadership in defence for the Italian nation.”
AVM Simon Ellard, NETMA’s general manager, concluded: “The new order for Italy is yet another fantastic achievement for the Eurofighter programme. The order, which follows the recent Halcon II contract, marks a new era for the programme and demonstrates how important the Eurofighter Typhoon is for the collective security of Europe. The EJ200 engine continues to deliver superior performance for the Eurofighter, ensuring the aircraft has the power it needs to secure the skies over Italy and NATO’s eastern flank.”