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BAE SYSTEMS-led consortium wins 300 million Eurofighter defensive aids contract

17 Jun 2001

BAE Systems in the UK and its partners in the EuroDASS consortium, Elettronica in Italy and Indra in Spain, have been awarded the production contract for the first batch of Defensive Aids Sub System (DASS) equipment for the Eurofighter Typhoon.

The contract award is as a result of close co-operation between the EuroDASS companies, representing the needs of the Defence Ministries of UK, Italy and Spain, and the Eurofighter partner airframe manufacturers.

The initial contract, worth in excess of 300 million, is to equip 103 aircraft. The EuroDASS partner companies will deliver DASS Line Replaceable Items in their home countries and deliveries will start in the first quarter of 2002.

The DASS is installed internally on Eurofighter and provides protection against air-to-air and surface-to-air missiles. The internal installation means that no external pods have to be carried, which would increase drag and would tie-up a pylon that could be otherwise used to carry weapons. Self defence sensors, which have a 360-degree coverage detect and evaluate potential threats to the aircraft, at maximum range, and then automatically deploy the most effective countermeasures, without pilot intervention.

Germany, one of the Eurofighter partners, initially decided to omit DASS but following recent German Parliamentary approval, it is anticipated that the order will be augmented in the near future, to include the involvement of EADS in Germany. The amended order is expected to cover additional equipment deliveries together with some initial system enhancements.

BAE Systems Avionics is the prime contractor of the Consortium and its Sensor Systems Division will manage the programme from its design centre for the DASS at Stanmore in Middlesex.

The UK element of the DASS equipment will be integrated at the new production facility at Crewe Toll in Edinburgh with additional work being carried out by BAE Systems at Portsmouth.

Business Group Director Frank Yuill said, “The contract will secure 400 jobs across the EuroDASS consortium partner companies over the next four years with a further 550 at key subcontractors and is a major move forward in enhancing the capability of the indigenous technology available from the four nations. The potential for Eurofighter exports is good with a significant number of nations showing serious interest in the aeroplane”.

To cater for the ever-changing threat profiles, the DASS system is designed to allow easy modification for future growth, thus ensuring protection for Eurofighter through the 21st Century.