Lancashire to support £500m Spanish Eurofighter contract

The BAE Systems facilities in Samlesbury and Warton will play a key role in the delivery of 20 Eurofighter Typhoon aircraft for the Spanish Air Force.

The new contract, worth in excess of £500m, was announced at the ILA Berlin International Air Show.

BAE Systems leads the overall design, development, manufacture, upgrade and support for Typhoon aircraft in the UK. 

From its two Lancashire operations, the company will be responsible for manufacturing more than a third of the components for every Spanish aircraft.

The announcement by Spain follows an order for 38 new Typhoons for Germany in November 2020.

Work on the Spanish fleet will begin this summer with final assembly undertaken by Airbus in Getafe, Spain, with deliveries scheduled to commence from 2025.

The Typhoon aircraft will replace Spain’s ageing F-18 Hornet aircraft based at Gando Air Base in the Canary Islands.

Andrea Thompson, managing director – Europe & International for BAE Systems’ Air sector, and chair of the Eurofighter Supervisory Board, said: "The Spanish government’s commitment to purchasing additional Typhoons reinforces its position as one of the world’s most successful combat military aircraft.

"The fact that an existing Typhoon operator is committing to buying additional aircraft only reinforces their confidence in the aircraft and its performance.

"Our people will now work alongside our Eurofighter partners to ensure we provide the Spanish Air Force with the aircraft it needs to secure its skies for decades to come."