Article Posted on : - Jan 25, 2010

Eurofighter Typhoon aircraft. UK MoD Photo

LONDON (BNS): Britain’s Defence Ministry has awarded a £865million ($1.4 billion) contract to Rolls-Royce to provide engines for the Royal Air Force's Typhoon fighter aircraft.

As per the ten-year contract, Rolls-Royce will provide maintenance and support services to the EJ200 engines fitted in the Typhoons.

“This contract will ensure that our Typhoon aircraft continue to meet their operational commitments as a cornerstone of the UK's air defence capabilities.

“We are committed to building strong arrangements with UK industry, in this case to get more efficient and affordable support for our front line Typhoon fighter force,” Minister for Defence Equipment and Support, Quentin Davies, said.

The Eurofighter Typhoon is a multi-role twin-engine combat aircraft having surface attack capability. It has been designed to carry AMRAAM air-to-air missile systems.

The aircraft has stealth features and supercruise capabilities, enabling it to fly at a speed of over Mach 1.

UK’s Royal Air Force inducted the first batch of Typhoons in 2003 which were deployed in 2006.