BRITAIN is to press ahead with the £40 billion Eurofighter project, the Defence Secretary, Mr Michael Portillo, announced yesterday. The British government will buy 232 state of the art jets in a £16 billion deal that will secure 14,000 jobs in the arms industry across Britain.
Britain hopes that as well as providing it with the very latest in military air technology, the project will keep Britain and its three Eurofighter partners - Germany, Italy and Spain at the forefront of the expanding global aerospace industry.
Mr Portillo said he hoped the announcement would "nudge" Germany into action after it delayed a decision on the fighter's future. It comes after efforts by the powerful German finance committee to block the programme amid growing economic pressures as the country prepares for European Monetary Union.
British military sources admitted there was still likely to be a tough political battle through the autumn to secure German support. But they hope the announcement that Britain is ready to invest £1.5 billion to install production facilities will force the pace with German ministers.
Mr Portillo said the order was "excellent news for the Royal Air Force". He said it represented a crucial step forward towards providing it with a multi role aircraft with the operational flexibility to respond to the uncertain challenges of the next century.
The announcement was backed by both the Labour Party and the Liberal Democrats, but opponents claimed each Eurofighter job secured was costing more than £1 million. The Campaign Against the Arms Trade raised objections to the order at a tinge when the civilian manufacturing industry was in such a "critical state".
Mr Will McMahon, the campaign joint co ordinator, said: "Civilian aircraft companies are crying out for government support in a declining world market. Why is the government putting so much support into a military project when there is such a big growth market for environmental protection and technology which is being ignored?
Eurofighter is to be assembled at British Aerospace sites in Lancashire, while Rolls Royce will manufacture the engines primarily at Bristol and Derby.
Production investment marks the point of no return, but support from the other nations is essential before manufacture can go ahead. A final deal is expected to be signed by all four countries early next year.
