Farnborough 2024: Eurofighter lobbying for follow-on UK buy

An RAF Eurofighter Typhoon seen at the Royal International Air Tattoo ahead of the Farnborough International Airshow 2024. The CEO of the consortium that makes the aircraft has made the case for the UK buying additional airframes. (Janes/Gareth Jennings)

The Eurofighter consortium is pressing the United Kingdom to join the three other core partner nations in placing a follow-on order of the Typhoon combat aircraft, citing both operational and industrial imperatives for such a buy.

Speaking at the Farnborough International Airshow 2024 on 23 July, Eurofighter CEO Giancarlo Mezzanatto made the case for the UK to join Germany, Italy, and Spain in acquiring new Typhoons to replace older model jets and to add mass to its existing fleets.

“We think the UK needs more air power, and we think this aircraft meets that need,” Mezzanatto said, adding that the consortium and its partner industries were working with the newly elected Labour government in the context of its upcoming defence review. “It would be premature to predict the outcome [of that review],” he said.

In terms of operational reasons for the follow-on buy, Mezzanatto highlighted the Eurofighter's ongoing contribution to European air power in general over recent years, saying, “The Typhoon is making the difference – it is the central pillar of European air power, conducting more than 80% of the core nation missions over the past two years. It has been the air superiority deterrent [against Russia, and for Middle East operations].”