Germany: Eurofighter Typhoon has now achieved greater than 200,000 flying hours because the entry-into-service of its worldwide fleet. Eurofighter Jagdflugzeug GmbH confirmed the milestone today adding that, with 719 aircraft on contract, 571 aircraft ordered and 378 aircraft delivered, the programme has “never looked stronger”.
- 378 aircraft in service / 7 customers/ 20 operating units
- Backbone of 5 European Air Forces / Combat proven
Alberto Gutierrez, Chief Executive Officer of Eurofighter Jagdflugzeug GmbH, said: “This impressive milestone underlines the exceptional track-record of the Eurofighter Typhoon. Today, our congratulations visit each of the air forces who’ve achieved this target, to greater than 100,000 employees in Europe who’re thinking about the construction manufacturing and provide chain in addition to to the complete 400 companies who support us every day with their know-how and competences. This is often indeed a proud day for them all and a landmark day for Europe’s largest defence programme.”
The CEO added: “Every day our aircraft are protecting the skies in Europe, the center East or even within the Southern hemisphere. They’re on Quick Reaction Alert (QRA) duty 24 hours an afternoon, 7 days every week. Eurofighter Typhoon is combat proven because the Libya operations and is now gaining considerable momentum – indeed the programme hasn’t ever looked stronger. It has become the backbone of the Air Forces inside the UK, Germany, Italy, Spain and Austria. When the chips are down, air chiefs want an aircraft that’s versatile, reliable, resilient and price-effective. Eurofighter Typhoon fulfills all of those requirements and the operational experiences gained during these flying hours have proven it.”
The first 5,000 flying hours were achieved in November 2005. 10,000 hours came in August 2006 and 20,000 in May 2007. By August 2008, the Eurofighter Typhoon fleet had surpassed 50,000 hours and 100,000 flying hours was reached in January 2011. For the duration of these flying hours, Eurofighter has demonstrated 100 per cent availability in different international deployments including: Alaska; Malaysia; the United Arab Emirates; america; and India.
The global Eurofighter fleet now comprises 20 operating units with locations in Europe, the South Atlantic and the center East. Specifically there are: 7 units within the UK (4 in Coningsby, 2 in Leuchars and 1 in Mount Pleasant, Falkland Islands); 5 in Italy (2 in Grosseto, 2 in Gioia del Colle, 1 in Trapani); 3 in Germany (Laage, Neuburg and Nörvenich), in addition to 3 in Spain (2 in Morón, 1 in Albacete) and one each in Austria (Zeltweg) and inside the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia – they all have contributed to the 200,000 flying hour total.
Background information:
Eurofighter Typhoon is essentially the mostsome of the most advanced new generation multi-role/swing-role combat aircraft currently available at the world market. Seven nations (Germany, the uk, Italy, Spain, Austria, Saudi Arabia and Oman) have already ordered the Eurofighter Typhoon.
With 719 aircraft under contract and 571 on order, Eurofighter Typhoon is currently the biggest military procurement programme in Europe. Its high technology strengthens the placement of European aerospace industry within the international market. The programme secures greater than 100,000 jobs in over 400 companies.
Eurofighter Jagdflugzeug GmbH manages the programme on behalf of the Eurofighter Partner Companies Alenia Aermacchi/Finmeccanica, BAE Systems and Cassidian in Germany and Spain, that are an important aviation and aerospace companies in Europe with a turnover of about 126 billion euro (2012).
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