The third and fourth Eurofighter Typhoons destined for the Kuwait Air Force, part of a larger order of 28 aircraft destined for the country's Air Force, landed yesterday in Kuwait.
The transfer flight of the new Eurofighters to Kuwait was made possible thanks to the support of our Air Force, which refueled in flight thanks to the use of a KC-767A aircraft of the 14th Wing based in Pratica di Mare.
Guido Sibona, Head of the Eurofighter program at Leonardo's Aircraft Division said: "Last month the Eurofighters flew over Kuwait City as part of the 'National Day' celebrations, and it was a source of pride for us as it is to see it grow the fleet. The Eurofighter Typhoons we have developed for the Kuwait Air Force are the most advanced ever produced under the European program. In cooperation with the Italian Air Force, we are providing the country with a large air defense capability, together with the construction of state-of-the-art infrastructures for the support and maintenance of a fleet of 28 aircraft ”.
The Eurofighter Kuwait program is part of a broader and deeper collaboration between the Italian Air Force and the Kuwait Air Force, which includes operational activities, pilot training and support. The Air Force is ensuring, in Italy, the initial training of the engineers and technicians who will support the activity of the Typhoon fleet in the country.
Leonardo plays a particularly important role in the evolution of the Eurofighter thanks also to the new AESA (Active Electronically Scanned Array) radar that equips the Eurofighter Typhoon for Kuwait, increasing the aircraft's performance and competitiveness.
The Eurofighter Typhoon benefits from a well-defined technological updating and improvement program, which guarantees its competitiveness throughout its entire life cycle. Constantly evolving technologies, both on board the aircraft and in the logistical support, increase its operational effectiveness, survival skills and management economy. The Eurofighter program is the cornerstone of European aerospace and defense technology and as such provides the industries involved with a technological leadership that will guarantee competitiveness in numerous future next generation programs.
DEEPENING
The Eurofighter program is managed by the Eurofighter GmbH consortium, a company based in Munich (Germany) owned by Leonardo, BAE Systems and Airbus Defense & Space for Germany and Spain. On the government side, it is managed by the NATO Eurofighter & Tornado Management Agency (NETMA), set up to meet the procurement needs of the Air Forces of the four participating countries: Italy, United Kingdom, Germany and Spain. In addition to the four partner countries, which have already ordered 510 Typhoons, international customers now include Saudi Arabia (72 aircraft), Austria (15), Oman (12), Kuwait (28) and Qatar (24), for a total of 661 ordered planes.
Leonardo represents with its activities about 36% of the value of the entire program, playing a key role in aeronautical components and on-board electronics.
In terms of employment, the Eurofighter program involves more than 100 people in Europe, of which over 20 in Italy, between direct, indirect and induced employment. Over 400 suppliers are involved in the production of the Typhoon, of which 200 in Italy.