BAE Systems has been awarded a £450 million contract by the UK Ministry of Defence (MOD) under a partnering arrangement that will see the RAF’s Typhoon aircraft maintained and supported by the Company. This will not only ensure the availability of the Typhoon fleet to meet its standing and future operational commitments but will also create 150 new jobs within BAE Systems and sustain a further 350 at its peak.

The contract, known as TAS (Typhoon Availability Service), draws on best practice and lessons learnt on previous UK MOD and BAE Systems support arrangement contracts. It underpins the Company’s work to deliver service excellence to the armed forces by providing the best services, equipment and support solutions to meet ongoing operational requirements. It is also further evidence of the progress BAE Systems is making to establish a successful through-life business.
 
Chris Boardman, Managing Director of Typhoon Mission Support & International Programmes at BAE Systems said: “Signature of the TAS contract is the culmination of 18 months intense work by a joint BAE Systems/UK MOD team. Through-life support is a potential area of growth for BAE Systems and we are already looking to accelerate the deployment of this capability and expertise across our global business.”
 
The Typhoon Integrated Project Team Leader, Air Commodore Chris Bushell, said: “Today’s announcement is intended to maximise aircraft availability by using the most cost-effective solution. Typhoon has now been operational in the air defence role for well over a year and a multi-role capability was integrated and declared combat ready by the RAF in July 2008. The signature of the TAS contract builds on this success.”
 
Currently over 200 BAE Systems employees work on the TAS contract across RAF Coningsby and the BAE Systems sites of Samlesbury and Warton. This will grow to 500 over the course of the five year contract.

Source: BAE