The Eurofighter consortium has no current indication that any of the programme's four European partner nations plan to cut their Tranche 3 orders for the Typhoon, according to chief executive Aloysius Rauen.
Although Italy and the UK have previously requested pricing options on potentially reducing their commitments to the 236-aircraft Tranche 3 order, Rauen says: "We have 236 aircraft in Tranche 3."
The NATO Eurofighter and Tornado Management Agency began negotiations with Germany, Italy, Spain and the UK on the Tranche 3 order following May's Berlin air show, and a complete proposal was submitted to the nations on 28 June.
"We are waiting for feedback on the route to the contract," says Rauen, with Eurofighter still requiring a signature late this year or early in 2009 to ensure a continuation of production activities. In bullish mood, Rauen says: "The recent schedule adherence makes us very confident."
Meanwhile, production of the Typhoon for export customers Austria and Saudi Arabia is gathering pace, while first indications also emerged at the show of possible new interest elsewhere in the Middle East.
Eurofighter delivered Austria's ninth of 15 Block 5 Typhoon interceptors - also the programme's last of 148 Tranche 1 production aircraft - to Zeltweg air base on 15 July.
The first five of 24 aircraft to be completed for the Royal Saudi Air Force in the UK are now on BAE Systems' Warton final assembly line, and an agreement is "very close" on local assembly of a further 48 of the type, says a BAE source.
Alsalam Aircraft remains the clear favourite to establish a local assembly and in-service support centre for the Saudi Typhoons, with Dahran appearing to be favoured site for the facility.
A group of BAE officials are expected to visit Saudi Arabia in late July to advance the deal, while the nation's first aircraft could make its debut flight before year-end.
Flight's air show news affiliate Flight Daily News reported that Oman has shown early interest in a possible future purchase of the Typhoon as a replacement for its Sepecat Jaguar strike aircraft.
The UK Royal Air Force recently announced plans to deploy the type to the nation early next year to participate in the bilateral exercise Magic Carpet.
Source: Flight International
