Fighter blow

THE pounds 20bn European Fighter Aircraft project has suffered a new blow with news that Spain, one of four European partners in the venture, believes production should be postponed 'by some years' and wants to extend the freeze on new contracts. Germany has already said it wants to scrap the project in favour of a smaller, less costly collaborative fighter. The Italian government has also expressed reluctance in committing new funds to the fighter.

Thousands of jobs at British Aerospace and elsewhere in the defence industry rely on the EFA going ahead.