The United Kingdom’s Royal Air Force Typhoon fleet has been further strengthened with the award of a new £205 million Engineering Delivery Partnership (EDP) contract. The five-year agreement, managed by Defence Equipment and Support (DE&S) and led by QinetiQ, will ensure that Typhoon aircraft remain safe, airworthy and capable of responding rapidly to evolving security demands at home and overseas.
This contract extension delivers significant benefits for the UK’s defence and aerospace sectors. It sustains 250 skilled roles across the country, including work for six Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) and experts based at QinetiQ, the Ministry of Defence and RAF sites such as Farnborough, Boscombe Down, Malvern, Lincoln, Bristol, RAF Coningsby and Warton. Together these teams will provide essential technical, safety and airworthiness expertise that keeps the Typhoon fleet operational and advancing to meet future requirements.
As the RAF’s principal combat aircraft, Typhoon jets play a vital role in protecting UK airspace through Quick Reaction Alert duties as well as deploying on international missions in support of NATO allies. The EDP contract supports this core role by maintaining and enhancing the aircraft’s capabilities, particularly as the jets operate in demanding environments at high speed.
The partnership also brings wider economic advantages. It strengthens the UK defence industrial base by backing high-value engineering services and reinforcing the delivery model that has supported Typhoon since the programme’s inception. With more than 3,000 highly skilled jobs sustained across the broader EDP, and over 290 SMEs participating, the contract contributes to regional employment and economic growth.
Both DE&S and industry leaders emphasise that this agreement not only secures current operational readiness but also underpins future innovation and the continued success of the Typhoon programme.
