Dowty $48 Million Award for Supersonic Drop Tanks

Dowty's Hamble Aerostructures unit has been awarded the series production contract for supersonic drop tanks for the Eurofighter Typhoon. Worth about $48 million, the award takes the value of Dowty's current firm Eurofighter contracts to over $240 million, even before expected export sales.

The tanks are fitted to both underwing and fuselage stations. Unusual on a modern aircraft, the pylon is integral with the tank and both are jettisoned as a unit, leaving the aircraft in 'clean' configuration to complete its mission.
The British group's workshare partners in the development were Dasa of Germany, Casa of Spain, and Italy's Aerea. In addition to overall production management, Hamble Aerostructures will manufacture various details, assemble the center sections, and perform 50% of final assembly and testing.

By Bob Rodwell