By Douglas Barrie

Eurofighter has halted its efforts to try to sell the Typhoon to Denmark and Norway.

The governments of the two countries have been informed of the consortium's decision to suspend participation in the fighter procurement programs in both countries.

Changes to the procurement process in terms of timing and structure prompted the decision according to an industry source close to the Eurofighter program. Britain, Germany, Italy and Spain are partners in the Typhoon.

Other contenders for the Norwegian and Danish programs are the Lockheed Martin-led F-35 Joint Strike Fighter, and an improved variant of the Saab Gripen.

A request-for-proposal approach had been anticipated in Norway, with contract signature by around 2011. Oslo, however, is not taking this route, and instead now intends to take a decision by the end of 2008.

Within the Eurofighter camp there has been frustration over how the procurements have developed.