Leonardo to Upgrade Defensive Aids Sub System
The British Ministry of Defence (MoD) has awarded Leonardo a two-year £40 million contract to upgrade the Defensive Aids Sub System (DASS) installed on the Royal Air Force’s Eurofighter TYPHOON fleet. The contract will sustain over 100 UK jobs with Leonardo and BAE Systems, according to an announcement made at the Airpower Conference in London on 13 July.
DASS incorporates Electronic Support Measures, missile warning, on-board electronic countermeasures and towed radar decoys. The upgrade will enhance the manner in which the aircraft protects itself from a wide threat spectrum – including enemy aircraft and ground-launched missiles – enabling it to successfully prosecute missions ranging from Quick Reaction Alert to defeating Daesh in Iraq and Syria as part of “Operation Shader.”
“This upgrade will ensure TYPHOON can identify and defeat known and emerging threats and shows that the MoD is committed to ensuring our armed forces have the best equipment and technology available to them,” Tony Douglas, Chief Executive Officer at the MoD’s Defence Equipment and Support organisation, commented.