At 500,000 flight hours, Eurofighter is combat proven and ready for the future battlespace
Europe‘s largest and most successful defence collaboration programme – the Eurofighter Typhoon combat aircraft – continues to demonstrate its mission capabilities in surpassing the 500,000-flight hour milestone.
The Typhoon is based on the strength of four European nations and their aerospace/defence industries: the UK, Germany, Italy and Spain; with the deployed Eurofighter fleet rapidly accumulating hours aloft – particularly in recent years based on the increase of operational tempo for air policing and combat operations.
As a partner company in the Eurofighter programme, we’ve played a major part in this success
In total, we’ve performed the final assembly for 219 Eurofighter aircraft in our final assembly lines in Getafe, Spain, and Manching, Germany during the almost 25-year history of this hugely successful fighter aircraft.
Kurt Rossner, Head of Combat Aircraft at Airbus Defence and Space
Airbus’ production and support roles for the Typhoon
Rossner added that all right-hand wings and slats are produced in Getafe, while the centre fuselages are integrated in Manching – an impressive 571 of them to date.
And through the maintenance and overhaul services at our sites at Getafe, Manching and Morón in Spain, we’re contributing to the operational readiness of the fleets every day.
Kurt Rossner, Head of Combat Aircraft at Airbus Defence and Space
The number of Typhoons in service now totals nearly 500, with the potential for this figure to grow substantially in the coming decades.
Looking ahead, the Typhoon will play a key role in the evolving battlespace, and is to be a central pillar in the future European combat air system. By developing and integrating key technologies – including a new electronically-scanned array radar, enhanced human-machine interface and new weapons – the Eurofighter combat aircraft will remain ready to defend against threats for decades to come.
In acknowledging cumulative time logged by the Typhoons in service, aircraft from the air force fleets of Germany, Spain, Italy and the UK had the same “500,000 flying hours” message painted on their fuselage.