Eurofighter Typhoon achieves the first 5,000 hours in operational flying
Hallbergmoos (ots)
The Eurofighter fleet in the four Partner Air Forces has surpassed the 5,000 flying hour mark early November 2005. The nations had started taking delivery of aircraft at the end of 2003. With production running up during 2004, the air forces introduced Eurofighter Typhoon into service in spring 2004. At the end of 2004 they operated 30 aircraft.
At this very early operational flying phase the air forces focused on evaluation of procedures in ground and flying operation, logistic processes and most importantly training of air and ground crew. Some of the aircraft were and still are used for maintenance training.
Today 59 production aircraft have been delivered to the four air forces directly. Five Instrumented Production Aircraft, owned by the nations, have been delivered but are operated by industry for the development Eurofighter Typhoon's future capabilities together with six Development Aircraft. This fleet of test aircraft has achieved a total of more than 4,000 flying hours also by the end of October 2005.
Thus the international Eurofighter fleet is now approaching the first 10,000 flying hour mark.
The four air forces plan to go operational with armed aircraft flying in 2006. The Italian Air Force plans to go to QRA in the beginning of next year, the German Air Force, the Royal Air Force and the Spanish Air Force to follow in summer.
The Royal Air Force has already fired ASRAAM missiles and carried AMRAAM C-5 missiles.
Images
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NOTES TO EDITORS:
Eurofighter Typhoon is the world's most advanced swing-role combat aircraft, developed by the leading aerospace companies, Alenia Aeronautica, BAE SYSTEMS, EADS in Germany and EADS CASA, of the four partner countries, Italy, United Kingdom, Germany and Spain.
Agile and highly manoeuvrable, the twin-engine Eurofighter Typhoon is designed to operate from hastily prepared bases and small runways for worldwide operations. It is equipped with an advanced multi-mode radar and an extensive range of sensors and electronic countermeasures.
The aircraft's ability to gain air superiority beyond visual range (BVR) and in close combat, and at the same time deliver high sortie rates against air, naval and ground targets in all weathers with a variety of weapons, demands close attention to pilot workload. In Eurofighter the pilot flies through use of a computerised flight control system, which offers full carefree handling.
A strong emphasis has been placed on reducing cost of ownership in addition to outstanding performance and flight safety. Eurofighter Typhoon is less expensive to operate than the generation of aircraft it is designed to replace. In respect to the cost to performance relationship Eurofighter is second to none of its competitors.
The Eurofighter partner nations plan to take delivery of 620 aircraft: 180 for Germany, 121 for Italy, 87 for Spain and 232 for the United Kingdom. An additional export order of 18 Eurofighter Typhoon has been signed with the Government of Austria.
The Royal Norwegian Ministry of Defence has agreed an industrial participation programme with Eurofighter GmbH for the future enhancement of the weapon system. Eurofighter Typhoon has also been selected by Greece to meet its respective requirements for a future fighter.
Following Type Acceptance on 30 June, 2003, delivery of Series Production Aircraft commenced to each of the four national air forces with entry into service declared in Spring of 2004.
With the signature of the Tranche 2 Production Contract on 14 December 2004, Eurofighter received the production go-ahead for more than 400 aircraft. Eurofighter Typhoon has the largest confirmed production contract order book of any next generation fighter aircraft.
Contact:
Wolfdietrich Hoeveler
Vice President Communication
Eurofighter GmbH
Phone +49/811'801'555
Mobile +49/170'855'0474
E-Mail: wolfdietrich.hoeveler@eurofighter.com
Mark Ritson
Head of Public Relations
Eurofighter GmbH
Phone +49/811'801'555
Mobile +49/172'893'21'47
E-Mail: mark.ritson@eurofighter.com