QinetiQ signs £52.5m Typhoon support extension contract

QinetiQ has today (Tuesday 08 August 2006) signed a contract with the Defence Procurement Agency, worth up to £52.5M over the next three years, to continue support for the Typhoon programme. The package includes £50M for defined technical support, advice and safety clearance activity, together with £2.5M allocated to sub-contracts and future emergent work.

QinetiQ has played a central role in the evolution of the Eurofighter Typhoon since its conception almost 20 years ago and over the past five years QinetiQ's activities have been focused under a single integrated support contract. This new contract continues much of the activity done to date, with the introduction of some new customer required tasks.

"This contract award recognises the strategic role QinetiQ continues to have in the development and future operation of this aircraft,� stated Andrew Sleigh QinetiQ's MD Defence & Technology. "We are focused on delivering exceptionally high quality, cost effective support, which will see the Typhoon operate safely and use new sophisticated modern systems as they are developed.�

The pan-QinetiQ team delivers a variety of valuable services to the Typhoon IPT. These include providing independent Release to Service (RTS) safety recommendations; the technical review of Verification, Qualification and Certification (VQ&C) evidence; programme risk reduction and recovery support activities; future capability/decision support; and the operation of strategic facilities for the MOD. This package allows the MOD to have confidence in the safety and fitness for purpose of the Typhoon and its associated systems as they are developed.

RTS recommendations are based on detailed assessments by QinetiQ's experts covering all aspects of aircraft safety and functionality. Qualification testing of aircrew equipment is carried out in consultation with the RAF CAM Aviation Medicine advisor and QinetiQ also conducts both manned and unmanned testing on behalf of industry. Other support includes modelling and simulation, flight trials and software analysis.

QinetiQ staff and resources are located across a number of UK sites, including Boscombe Down, BAE Systems Warton (where there is also a QinetiQ presence), Farnborough, Bedford, Malvern, Bristol and Fort Halstead. A number of the MOD ranges, which are operated by QinetiQ under the long term partnering agreement (LTPA), are also used in support of this programme.

Typhoon is being developed through two consortia, Eurofighter and Eurojet, both comprising design manufacturers from each of the four contributing countries - UK, Germany, Italy and Spain. Eurofighter is focused on developing the airframe and onboard systems with its UK partner BAE Systems. Eurojet is working on development of the EJ200 turbofan engine with Rolls-Royce as its UK design and manufacturing partner.