I am pleased to inform you that we have placed the contract for the METEOR air-to-air missile for Typhoon.

  The German Bundestag Budget Committee approved German participation in the METEOR programme on 18 December. The German Defence Minister signed the METEOR Memorandum of Understanding the following day, the last of the six partner nations (France, Italy, Germany, Spain, Sweden and the UK) to sign. This has permitted the UK, as lead nation, to sign the contract with MBDA.

  METEOR is a key element of the Government's commitment to provide the best possible equipment for the Armed Forces. It will ensure that Typhoon has the capability to combat predicted air-to-air threats, meeting our requirement to maintain air superiority well into the future.

  I am sure you will join with me in agreeing that this is extremely good news for British and European Industry, sustaining high-quality jobs in new technology and in system and software design. Furthermore, it puts MBDA at the forefront of European missile defence and enhances export prospects for the Typhoon.