Jobs will be sustained through a contract awarded by DE&S to Rolls-Royce for the continued maintenance and repair of EJ200 engines for Royal Air Force (RAF) Typhoons.

The five-year Typhoon Engine Support Solution (TESS), worth £563 million, will support approximately 200 direct jobs, with the majority based in Bristol.

The TESS contract will build resilience through the UK-based supply chain supporting up to 2,400 jobs that are essential to harnessing the UK’s combat air expertise. TESS will sustain vital skills to enable the RAF to deliver air capabilities today and bridge to future capabilities like the Global Combat Air Programme (GCAP).

The Typhoon Delivery Team is the largest within DE&S and includes civilians, military personnel, and contractors. The Team is supporting Typhoon and Battle of Britain Memorial Flight in-service and delivering a series of upgrade programmes over the next 10 years, to ensure the UK’s 130 Typhoons can continue defending the UK at home and abroad.

Lyndon Hoyle, Typhoon Delivery Team Head at DE&S, said: “We are pleased to award this long-term contract to Rolls-Royce for the continued maintenance and repair of Typhoon EJ200 engines, a commitment that supports around 200 skilled jobs in the UK. This contract not only ensures the continued availability of the Typhoon fleet, it helps drives growth and prosperity within UK Defence, reinforcing our dedication to procuring capability that equips our armed forces with competitive edge now and in the future.”

Those working on the contract will undertake services including the maintenance, repair and overhaul of the engine and modules, provision of spares and aircraft ground equipment management.

Defence Secretary John Healey MP said: “Not only will this contract help to maintain our world-class jets, it also delivers on our Plan for Change by securing around 200 jobs in the UK and boosting the skills base our world-leading defence industry relies upon.

“Together with our upgrade programme, this contract will ensure our Typhoon fleet remains the backbone of UK air defence for the next decade.”

Since entering service in 2003 the RAF Typhoon has been the backbone of combat air defence for the UK. Typhoon covers a full spectrum of air operations including air policing, peace support and high-intensity conflict.

Typhoon plays a key role in the UKs Quick Reaction Alert Fleet, which defends British and Falkland Islands airspace. They are primarily based at RAF Lossiemouth and RAF Coningsby, and in the Falklands as part of the Quick Reaction Force.

Alex Zino, Head of Global Network and Director of Business Development and Future Programmes at Rolls-Royce, said: “The Typhoon Engine Support Solution represents a continuation of our support of the EJ200 engine – something we have been committed to for over two decades. The Royal Air Force’s Typhoon fleet is crucial in maintaining the UK’s combat air capability and defending our interests at home and abroad and we are proud to serve our UK armed forces customer and help keep this aircraft flying for years to come.”