Fylde aircraft workers roll out first Typhoon in £2.5bn deal

Fylde coast aircraft workers have presented the first two aircraft in a £2.5bn deal to their new owners.
By The Newsroom
Published 16th May 2017, 15:53 BST
Updated 4th Jun 2017, 21:38 BST
The first BAE Systems Hawk and Typhoon bound for OmanThe first BAE Systems Hawk and Typhoon bound for Oman
The first BAE Systems Hawk and Typhoon bound for Oman

The first of 12 Eurofighter Typhoons and the first of eight Hawks were rolled out for the Royal Airforce of Oman at a special ceremony.

An invited audience of more than 100 delegates witnessed the event at BAE Systems’ site in Warton.

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Among them were His Excellency Sayyid Badr bin Saud al Busaidi, the Sultanate of Oman’s Minister Responsible For Defence Affairs (MRDA) and the Commander of the Royal Air Force of Oman, Air Vice-Marshal Mattar bin Ali bin Mattar Al Obaidani.

The event was followed by a fly-past of a Royal Air Force of Oman Eurofighter Typhoon aircraft.

Chris Boardman, Managing Director, BAE Systems Military Air and Information, said: “We are privileged and honoured to be able to celebrate the completion of the first Eurofighter Typhoon and Hawk aircraft in the presence of the Minister Responsible for Defence Affairs (Sultanate of Oman) and the Commander and representatives of the Royal Air Force of Oman.

“BAE Systems has a long and proud history of working in Oman, which has been built over more than half a century. “Today’s event represents a further strengthening of that special relationship.

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“We believe that, in Eurofighter Typhoon and Hawk, Oman has added the most advanced combat jet and proven training aircraft available in the world to its military portfolio.

“We look forward to continuing to work in close partnership with Oman’s Ministry of Defence as deliveries of the first aircraft begin.”

Volker Paltzo, the chief executive officer for Eurofighter Jagdflugzeug GmbH, said: “On behalf of all the Eurofighter Partner Companies (EPCs), I congratulate BAE Systems and the Royal Air Force of Oman on this roll out, which is a proud day for the whole Eurofighter Typhoon programme.”

Oman signed the deal for the aircraft in December 2012 with assembly work starting in 2014 and first deliveries set for 2017.

It also included in-service support for the aircraft which are assembled at Warton.

See also: Typhoon upgrades could safeguard jobs

Related topics:FyldeBAE SystemsWarton