Panavia Aircraft GmbH has signed a major contract with NATO Eurofighter and Tornado Management Agency (NETMA) to upgrade the Tornado jets in Italy

Panavia Tornado contract ItalyOn 21st February 2013 the MET 27 contract was signed between NETMA, represented
by the General Manager, Jesus Prieto Pinillos, and Panavia, represented by the
Managing Director, Dr. Welf-Werner Degel. The agreement demonstrates a
commitment by all parties in achieving continued efficiencies on the programme;
long-term support for the sustainability of aircraft and capability upgrades of
the platform.
The objective of MET Contract Annex 27 is the integration of
the two new Weapons, namely the Advanced – Anti Radiation-Guided- Missile
(AARGM) and the Small-Diameter-Bombs (SDBs) on the Tornado RET 7 and RET 8
configuration.
The MET Contract Annex 27 covers a three years implementation
activity plus flight test activity: the Integration activities of both Weapons
in a common Software load with one unique Panavia Service Release Recommendation
(PSRR) by December 2015 (36 months activity, the activity has already launched
by an ITP on November 2012). All the Panavia Partner Companies are involved,
mainly Alenia Aermacchi and CASSIDIAN as well as the suppliers BOING and ATK.