The MoD have finally made a decision on Tranche 3 Typhoon. The Prime Minister, Gordon Brown, announced the decision saying…
I am pleased that we are moving forward with this important programme with our partner nations. This will strengthen Britain’s defence capability, and will create new jobs in advanced manufacturing that Britain needs to emerge stronger and fitter from this global downturn
The Secretary of State for Defence, John Hutton added
We look forward to receiving an affordable bid from European industry that will allow us to proceed with a programme that will deliver advanced multi-role aircraft to the Royal Air Force and maintain high-technology skills and industrial capability across the UK and Europe.
Subject to the satisfactory outcome of these negotiations, I hope that we will be in a position to sign a contract later this year
NETMA (NATO Eurofighter Tornado Management Agency) will continue to negotiate the procurement and ongoing support costs, the expectation that the direction will downwards. The MoD will ‘initial’ a ministerial agreement that the other nations have already signed. Numbers and specification have yet to be confirmed.
The final contract will be signed if ‘the price is right’
The UK had come under increasing pressure from the other partner nations to stop prevaricating and commit. The announcement has been greeted with a range of reactions as could have been expected but is it really a positive decision.
Maybe…
