A multi-million pound complex was officially opened at RAF Coningsby by Defence Minister Quentin Davies on Wednesday.
The high-tech office buildings and hangar are part of British Aerospace Systems' (BAES) £428-million contract with the Ministry of Defence to support the RAF's Typhoon combat aircraft.
Mr Davies said it was an exciting day for the country and the pe
ople involved with Typhoon.
He said: "It's an important day for the many people who are going to be employed on this contract. That's good news for many people."
The facility includes a support centre, maintenance hangar and state-of-the-art training centre.
Bob Askey, BAES head of management and maintenance for Typhoon, said the aircraft will move into the new hangar in the next few weeks and the hangar where they were will be upgraded.
As well as maintenance of the aircraft the contract will see BAES train Typhoon pilots and ground crew and look after the aircraft's software and data needs.
Around 80 per cent of Typhoon's capability comes from its software and much of this is dealt with in the National Support Centre (NSC).
The NSC was dedicated to the memory of Air Commodore Alex Deytrikh in a private ceremony before the official opening.
He died on March 26 after a long battle with Motor Neurone Disease and was a key figure in the Typhoon project.
Terry Wain, BAES head of weapons system support, told the News the centre is 'unique' and houses one of the best engineering teams in Europe.
There will be 280 BAES staff on site by the end of the year and up to 450 by 2013.
Mr Wain said between 60 and 65 per cent of those jobs went to local people or people who have come to live here.
Chris Boardman, a managing director at BAES, said the company was committed to putting down 'definitive roots' in Lincolnshire and developing the local workforce.
Mr Boardman said: "We're here to stay. The project goes on for many decades."
Although the initial contract is for five years, those speaking at the ceremony hinted it would be extended for the full-life of the aircraft, expected to be up to 2035 and beyond, if successful.
lAre you thrilled to have the Typhoon on your doorstep? Email sean.topham@jpress.co.uk or write to the Editor, Horncastle News, Church Lane, Horncastle LN9 5HW.
What's There:
Typhoon Maintenance Facility – A huge hangar with 128m x 68m of floor space with room to work on ten Typhoon aircraft. It also houses a separate room for repairing avionics, the aircraft's electronics.
National Support Centre – a large office building housing engineers, designers and software and data specialists from both BAES and the RAF.
Typhoon Training Facility – A top secret building where air crew and ground crew are trained. Inside are flight simulators where trainees can fly virtual missions without leaving the ground and experience all sorts of crises such as fires and even crashing.
