Leonardo extends Eurofighter support deal with Kuwait

Leonardo has secured a multi-year extension to provide in-service support for the Kuwait Air Force’s Eurofighter Typhoon fleet, with the agreement running until December 2029, according to the company.

The extension was exercised as an option in Kuwait’s original 2016 contract for 28 Eurofighters. Leonardo said the new deal will deliver “integrated Logistics Support and Training” through Leonardo Aviation Services at Salem Al Sabah Base. The company described the move as a reinforcement of its strategic partnership with Kuwait.

Kuwait’s Eurofighter order, signed in April 2016, was valued at around €8 billion and represented one of the most significant export contracts for the aircraft. The aircraft are built in Italy by Leonardo, which is responsible for more than one-third of the overall Eurofighter programme. Deliveries began in late 2021, and the majority of Kuwait’s fleet is now in service.

The Kuwaiti Typhoons are among the most advanced variants in operation, equipped with the Captor-E Active Electronically Scanned Array radar, the Praetorian defensive aids system, and integration for long-range precision strike weapons. According to Leonardo, the in-service support extension is intended to ensure that these capabilities are maintained and fully available for the country’s air defence requirements.

Leonardo Aviation Services, a Kuwaiti company established to support the fleet, will continue to provide engineering support, maintenance, repair, overhaul and upgrade, supply chain management, and training solutions for both pilots and ground crew. The company said such services are central to its broader business model. “Supplying comprehensive support solutions is core to Leonardo’s global strategy to properly enable the most efficient and effective operations of its technologies through advanced tailored services and proximity,” the announcement stated.

The Italian group framed the agreement as part of a long-term relationship. “The support activities carried out in Kuwait will allow to maximise the high level of capability delivered by the Eurofighter Typhoons to meet the national air defence requirements,” Leonardo said.