TYPHOON SELECTED FOR FINAL STAGE OF SINGAPORE'S NEXT FIGHTER REPLACEMENT COMPETITION

BAE SYSTEMS welcomes today's decision by the Defence, Science and Technology Agency (DSTA) in Singapore to select the Typhoon swing role fighter aircraft for the final stage of the country's Next Fighter Replacement (NFR) competition.

Commenting on the decision on behalf of the Eurofighter consortium, Peter Anstiss, Managing Director - Typhoon Export Programmes at BAE SYSTEMS said, &We are delighted with the decision and are already working towards providing the most competitive operational and industrial solution for Singapore as the competition enters the next stage. We are convinced that Typhoon will meet the exacting demands of the Republic of Singapore Air Force whilst providing its industry with the opportunity to be involved at the start of a new and exciting high technology programme.

Typhoon is the World's most advanced air superiority swing-role fighter in production, with the most advanced interoperable weapons suite available, and has been specifically designed for high availability and low life cycle costs. But it is Typhoon's innovative long-term advanced support concept that could bring most benefit, as it will fully utilise Singapore's considerable technology base and skilled resources.

Typhoon will form a cornerstone of NATO's defence capability for the next 30 years. In Europe,s largest ever collaborative military programme, four of Europe,s leading defence companies will deliver 620 aircraft to the air forces of the United Kingdom, Germany, Italy and Spain. BAE SYSTEMS, the UK's premier defence contractor, is joined by the UK government in championing Typhoon for Singapore, fully backed by the governments of its partner nations, who have already expressed their strong commitment to both Singapore and Typhoon.

Involvement in this extensive programme would offer Singapore a unique opportunity of direct access to the technologies and industries of four of the key partner nations in Europe, and to extensive technology transfer. The selection of Typhoon represents just one step in the path already begun in building an enhanced long-term relationship between Singapore and the four partner nations.

The Typhoon programme is already set to welcome two new nations, as Austria confirm its order for 18 Typhoons to meet its future requirements and Greece has previously selected the aircraft as its next generation fighter.

The Singapore NFR requirement is to replace the Republic of Singapore Air Force,s (RSAF) existing A-4 and F-5 aircraft The initial requirement is for approximately 20 aircraft.