EADS Eurofighter signs Greek contract

[akritas]

February 5, 2008

ATHENS, Greece Under the agreement, the government-controlled defense and aerospace company Hellenic Aerospace Industry SA will obtain technology and know-how to bolster its airframe design and development capability at a newly created design center recently opened by the company. The move comes before a long-awaited tender by the Greek air force to purchase several dozen next-generation fighter aircraft. EADS's warplane unit, Eurofighter, is one of several companies hoping to win a deal with Greece. "Greece is welcome to become an integrated partner in the Eurofighter program," said Bernhard Gerwert, chief executive officer of Military Air Systems, a unit of the EADS Defence & Security Division. Reiterating the company's earlier calls for Greece to join the European countries that use Eurofighter Typhoon aircraft -- Germany, Britain, Italy, Spain and Austria -- Gerwert said "we offer Greece a long lasting partnership which will secure high tech jobs and facilitate industrial development and economic growth." Last year, the company signed a 4 million euro production contract with EADS to manufacture a part of the air intake system for all Eurofighters through 2013, adding to existing component production deals worth about 38 million euros.



In 2003, the previous Socialist government of Greece initialed a preliminary contract with Eurofighter with an eye to acquiring as many as 60 of the aircraft. But following elections in March 2004, the newly elected New Democracy government put off a decision on the contract due to budget constraints. The government, which was re-elected in September, is expected to launch a new tender this year for a next generation of fighter aircraft. Apart from the Eurofighter, the Lockheed Martin Corp. F-16, the Boeing Co. F-18, the Dassault Aviation SA Rafale and the Swedish Gripen fighter are also reportedly contenders.

http://www.businessweek.com/ap/finan.../D8UKADAG0.htm