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EADS welcomes Austria as Eurofighter customer

Amsterdam, 21 August 2003

The procurement contract for 18 Eurofighter Typhoon aircraft destined as an airspace surveillance system for the Austrian armed forces will become effective on Friday, after the legislation accompanying the budget having been countersigned by the Federal President and published in the Federal Gazette. “We extend a warm welcome to the Austrian Air Force as a future user of the world's most advanced air defence system,” announced EADS CEOs Rainer Hertrich and Philippe Camus.

“Austria is a prime export customer and with its decision to purchase Eurofighter has now cast a clear vote in favour of strengthening European security structures and extending European industrial cooperation. This is a strong boost both to Eurofighter’s export potential and to EADS’ defence business,” the EADS CEOs agreed.

“Today we reaffirm our commitment to do everything in our power to not only fulfil a contract but also be a reliable partner to the Austrian Armed Forces in the long term.” Hertrich and Camus declared that they would continue to give their wholehearted support to the export drive undertaken by the Eurofighter consortium.

Aloysius Rauen, President and CEO of EADS Military Aircraft, emphasized that although the contract negotiations with the Austrian partners had been tough with regard to military technology and economic issues, at all times they had been fair. “I am delighted that the Eurofighter consortium has been able to satisfy the requirements of the Austrian Air Force by offering the best product, while at the same time taking into account Austria’s national economic interests in this unique industrial partnership agreement.”

Rauen confirmed that the leading European aerospace companies EADS, Alenia and BAE SYSTEMS, as members of the Eurofighter consortium, together with their partner companies and subcontractors, will now press ahead with all the necessary steps so as to ensure that the aircraft are delivered to the Austrian Armed Forces on time and in the desired quality and that the related offset business is implemented.

EADS is the second largest aerospace and defence company in the world with revenues of EUR 29.9 billion in the year 2002 and a workforce of more than 100,000. It is a systems integrator and as such is one of the few companies worldwide capable of combining various products and technologies to form complete systems and offering the associated services. The EADS Group includes the aircraft manufacturer Airbus, the world's largest helicopter supplier Eurocopter and the joint venture MBDA, the second largest missile producer in the global market. EADS is the major partner in the Eurofighter consortium, is the prime contractor for the Ariane launcher, develops the A400M military transport aircraft and is the largest industrial partner for the European satellite navigation system Galileo. EADS has over 70 sites in France, Germany, Great Britain and Spain and is active in many regions worldwide, amongst them America, Russia and Asia.

Your contact:

EADS Military Aircraft
Wolfram Wolff
Phone: +49-89-607 25711
Fax: +49-89-607 22455
eMail: wolfram.wolff@m.eads.net