THE Eurofighter project - which is set to have a major impact on the East Lancashire economy - has reached another important milestone.

Contracts have been signed covering the production and support of 620 Eurofighters, including 232 for the RAF.

British Aerospace and its Eurofighter-building partners can press ahead with plans to sell additional aircraft around the world in a major export drive.

"This signing assures Europe's place at the forefront of international aerospace technology for the next 30 years," said Eurofighter spokesman Brian Phillipson.

The Eurofighter project safeguards 14,000 high-technology aerospace jobs in Britain as well as sustaining and creating 80,000 indirect jobs during peak production periods.

Thousands of workers at BAe's plants at Samlesbury and Warton will produce parts for the multi-role fighter.

And dozens of sub-contractors across East Lancashire will benefit from the orders. The signing ceremony follows a Memoranda of Understanding by the defence ministers of the four nations in Bonn, Germany, last month.

The four nations will start to receive their Eurofighter aircraft early in the next decade and the programme will last for well over 20 years.

"Today's production launch now gives us an opportunity to begin making firm offerings in the export market, where interest is already very high," said Mr Phillipson, who is managing director of Eurofighter for the four aerospace companies involved.

Countries thought to be interested in Eurofighter include Norway, Greece, the United Arab Emirates, nations in the Asia/Pacific area and Australia, which is looking to replace its F18 aircraft and its F111 bombers.

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