* Since Block-40, ops slip out.
UK prepares for multirole deployment of Eurofighter Typhoon
The UK Royal Air Force appears to be on track to meet its target of being able to deploy the multirole Eurofighter Typhoon internationally from July, with the UK Ministry of Defence having announced a deal to acquire temporary shelters to house the aircraft while on overseas operations. The RAF's 11 Sqn last year began preparing for a possible deployment to support NATO forces in Afghanistan from mid-2008, but sources now indicate that the UK's BAE Systems Harrier GR9s currently operating from the nation's Kandahar airfield could instead be replaced by a detachment of RAF Panavia Tornado GR4s.
The MoD says the contract to support international operations of the Typhoon will cover the procurment of between eight and 10 climate-controlled, rapid deployment shelters to be supplied by Rubb Building Systems under an award worth up to £685,000 ($1.3 million). Deliveries should be completed by late April, it adds, with the structures required to "provide an environmental seal in all climatic zones for the protection of personnel, IT and other equipment, for a minimum period of six months, or until more permanent infrastructure is made available".
Raytheon Systems has, meanwhile, been awarded an £8.5 million contract to support the integratation and flight trial of its Paveway IV precision-guided bomb with the GR4 airframe by 2010. The work will form part of a more than £200 million package of enhancements recently awarded to BAE to ensure the long-term combat utility of the GR4, also including the adition of new datalink equipment (Flight International, 12-17 February).
Link
http://www.flightglobal.com/articles...rofighter.html
February 26th, 2008
