By Robert Wall
LONDON--BAE Systems PLC (BAESY), Europe's largest defense
company, Wednesday said it has secured a contract valued at 365
million pounds ($572 million) as part of a deal to equip
Eurofighter Typhoon combat jets with a more advanced type of
radar.
BAE said European governments involved in the Typhoon combat jet
have committed to the multi-million dollar effort to supply the new
radar, which international buyers increasingly require on their
strike aircraft. The radar system is called Captor-E.
The Typhoon combat jet is built by a consortium comprising
BAE--as system integrator--Airbus Group NV (AIR.FR) and Italy's
Finmeccanica SpA (FNC.MI).
The European companies are eager to upgrade the Typhoon after
the fighter lost out to others in a series of international
competition for export orders. Japan, South Korea, and India are
among the countries opting for other jets. Typhoon production is at
risk of finishing before the end of the decade unless foreign
orders can be secured.
Lockheed Martin Corp., the world's largest defense company, and
Boeing Co. already offer the more advanced radar system on their
combat jets, as do European rivals Dassault Aviation SA and Saab
AB.
"This is a major step forward in the development of Typhoon,"
said Martin Taylor, managing director for combat air at BAE.
In recent years, the Eurofighter companies have been investing
their own money to mature the radar sensors and minimize the gap
with rivals in introducing the system. The radar first flew on a
Typhoon this year and is expected to enter service with the U.K.
Royal Air Force around 2020.
Write to Robert Wall at robert.wall@wsj.com
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