Heavy Punch. Eurofighter in Neuburg. First aircraft for Saudi Arabia flown. Project Foundation. 500 EJ200 delivered

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1 programme news and features issue eurofighter review Eurofighter in Neuburg First aircraft for Saudi Arabia flown Project Foundation 500 EJ200 delivered Eurofighter s Air-to-Ground Weapons Heavy Punch

2 eurofighter review - contents - - latest news - editorial eurofighter review 3 Contents 03 Editorial Welcome note from Aloysius Rauen, Chief Executive Officer Aloysius Rauen CEO Eurofighter GmbH News Austria s National Day with Eurofighter +++ Typhoon on wheels +++ Remember, remember +++ Italian Eurofighters visit Germany +++ Typhoon defence Eurofighter Review is published by Eurofighter GmbH, PR & Communications Am Söldnermoos 17, Hallbergmoos Tel: +49 (0) Editorial representative Wolfdietrich Hoeveler (wh) Vice President Communications Photography Eurofighter GmbH, Eurofighter Partner Companies, Geoffrey Lee Planefocus, Italian Air Force JG74 German Air Force Design & Production images.art.design. Werbeagentur GmbH Printed by ESTA Druck GmbH 12 Flight Test Achievements: More Capabilities! Eurofighter Review on the Internet Eurofighter Press Tour 2008: Eurofighter in Neuburg 06 Eurofighter in Neuburg Eurofighter Press Tour National Partner and Leader EADS Military Air Systems Role in Eurofighter 09 Radar and Avionics Partner EADS Defence Electronics contributes to Eurofighter 11 Soon to be six First aircraft for Saudi Arabia flies in Warton 12 More Capabilities! Flight Test Achievements 14 Project Foundation Changing the way we undertake Development Business 15 Managing the Programme Presenting the New COO 16 Global exhibit Eurofighter Typhoon at home and abroad 18 Heavy Punch Eurofighter s Air-to-Ground Weapons 21 Eurofighter Typhoon over Switzerland 22 Eurojet further on the route to success Cover picture shows two No 3 (F) Squadron Typhoons over the Nevada desert on Exercise Green Flag Tranche 2: Accepted. Delivered. Delivery continuity assured As far as achieving programme landmarks is concerned, Tranche 2 Type Acceptance and first deliveries of the next standard of Eurofighter Typhoon weapon systems were two of the top priorities for On 12 September, the negotiations were concluded and Type Acceptance was formally agreed with NETMA. Fast forward a few weeks and, with the arrival of the first two jets at RAF Coningsby on 21 October, deliveries of what will amount to 323 units commence. The two weapon systems to have landed at the Royal Air Force s Main Operating Base for Typhoon are the first of several Tranche 2 Eurofighter Typhoons that are to be handed over before the end of the year. Attending a welcoming reception at RAF Coningsby was Defence Equipment and Support Minister, Quentin Davies, who labelled the aircraft as the cornerstone of the UK s air defence capabilities, while the Royal Air Force themselves commented that the weapon system was delivered on time and to cost. The Tranche 2 production run also has an impact on the consortium s second export customer. Under the terms of the Project Minister Quentin Davies welcomed the new aircraft as the cornerstone of the UK s air defence capabilities Salam contract for the supply of Eurofighter Typhoon jets to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the first aircraft is due in-country by mid The Tranche 2 weapon systems will host a suite of new computers offering more processing power (speed and memory capacity), which will be the enabler for future capability insertion. The Phase One Enhancements (P1E) programme, agreed in March 2007, will be the first such capability growth package that all Tranche 2 Eurofighter Typhoons will receive. P1E covers: new software; an enhanced multi-role Man-Machine Interface (MMI); full Laser Designator Pod (LDP) integration; enhancements to the MIDS, GPS, DASS and communications systems; and the integration of the advanced Paveway IV and EGBU-16 air-to-surface weapons. The delivery programme for Tranche 2 is scheduled to run until editorial Dear Friends of Eurofighter Typhoon, The last year has seen a lot of Eurofighter highlights. And as the character of the programme keeps changing, the customer air forces deliver the news while they take more and more aircraft into operation. Eurofighter Typhoon is safeguarding the air space in five nations since last Summer. After Italy and the United Kingdom, Germany, Austria and Spain have followed placing aircraft in high readiness for Quick Reaction Alert duties. The Royal Air Force even has declared the system Multi-Role capable and deployable after a very successful detachment to the United States. The contacts between the ten Eurofighter units are increasing, and the aircraft is part of more international air exercises, one of the recent examples being Anatolian Eagle with Italian aircraft flying in Turkey. In Summer the total fleet of air forces and test aircraft operated by industry had surpassed the 50,000 flying hour mark. Now the air forces fleet alone has accumulated the same number of flying hours. Our flight test centres keep being busy at the same time with flight evaluation for Phase 1 Enhancement fully underway and inflight refueling tests in Italy with the C-130 and in Germany with the Airbus MRTT concluded. Earlier this year the industrial consortium in close dialogue with NETMA has initiated Project Foundation for new processes in development to adapt efficiently to upcoming operational requirements. And results are on the desk, to the benefit of the programme. So 2008 was good for Eurofighter thanks to the efforts of thousands involved in the nations, dedicated to deliver quality to the customer. Thanks to all of you and all the best for the new year Enjoy the issue. If you would like to request additional copies of Eurofighter Review, please contact the PR & Communications Department at Eurofighter GmbH Photography: Geoffrey Lee Aloysius Rauen Chief Executive Officer, Eurofighter GmbH

3 eurofighter review - news - - news eurofighter review 5 Austria s National Day with Eurofighter Sensational 700,000 visitors took the opportunity to see what their Armed Forces contribute to the Nation s security and safety on 26 October in Vienna. The day remembers the Neutrality Act was passed by the Austrian parliament after the occupation troops had withdrawn on 26 October A Eurofighter Full Scale Replica attracted enormous crowds. People queued for more than 90 minutes to sit in the cockpit for seconds. Major Michale Kirchner and Vizeleutnant Markus Fuetsch of the Surveillance Wing stationed in Zeltweg, Styria, briefed the crowds on the aircraft s capabilities. Both fly Eurofighter Typhoon since early And Vizeleutnant Peter Seewald of the Eurofighter Technik Fliegerwerft 2, also based at Zeltweg, never got tired to answer the question of interested visitors on the engine EJ200. Italian Eurofighters visit Germany More and more exchange visits between the international Eurofighter units are getting to be daily business. In August two aircraft from 4 Stormo, based in Grosseto, Toscany, flew into Rostock/Laage, home of German Fighter Wing 73 Steinhoff. Major Ivan Laudizi and Captain Andrea Braga staid for two days to fly together and to exchange first hand experience and information. 4 Stormo, commanded by Colonel Achille Cazzaniga, has an air defence task since 2005 and also trains future Eurofighter pilots of the Italian Air Force. Queueing for a glance into the cockpit of the World s Most Advanced Multi-Role Fighter Aircraft Flew in from Grosseto: Major Laudizi (left) and Captain Braga EJ200-powered supercar The fastest car of the world to be powered by Eurofighter s EJ200 Typhoon on wheels The stated intention of United Kingdom Science Minister, Lord Drayson, was to create enough of a buzz around a technology-based world record that it would inspire schoolchildren into following a science-based career and forming the future generation of British engineers. The Bloodhound SSC project certainly managed to achieve the first part as news of the supersonic car and its ambitions to break 1,000mph flashed around the world. A key element in the design of the Bloodhound SSC is the EJ200 engine, normally used to power Eurofighter Typhoon. Lord Drayson s previous involvement with the British Ministry of Defence was influential in the project team loaning the jet engine which, although beyond combat use and retired from the flight development programme, still has enough life for an attempt on the world land speed record. The Bloodhound SSC vehicle is scheduled to be completed in 2009 with 1,000mph attempt planned for RAF to bolster Icelandic QRA Typhoon defence It was announced in October that the Royal Air Force is to deploy six Eurofighter Typhoon aircraft from RAF Coningsby to Keflavik Air Base for a couple of weeks as part of an allied rotation of fighter units. The United Kingdom s Typhoon Force is currently declared to NATO and will undertake the deployment in support of the organisation s agreement to meet Iceland s peacetime need for Quick Reaction Alert (QRA) cover. The mission will be for a limited period during December. The deployment follows similar operations carried out by the U.S. Air Force and their French counterparts, both of whom intercepted a number of Russian Tupolov Tu-160 Blackjack bombers. Lt Col Alfonso Romero and Air Chief Marshall Sir Glenn Torpy with Wolfdietrich Hoeveler, Vice President Communication of Eurofighter GmbH (left), at the Institution of Mechanical Engineers Remember, remember This summer a team from Leonardo Da Vinci High School in Madrid, Spain, had won the Eurofighter Typhoon Trophy at the 2008 International Aerospace Summer School. When the winners of the 2008 UK School Aerospace Challenge were announced at the Institution of Mechanical Engineers recently in London, the Chief of Staff Royal Air Force, Air Chief Marshall Sir Glenn Torpy, presented a memento to the Spanish Air Attaché in the United Kingdom, Lieutenant Colonel Alfonso Romero. The International Aerospace Summer School will be on in 2009 again with teams from eleven nations.

4 eurofighter review - air force news - - air force news eurofighter review 7 Eurofighter Press Tour 2008 Eurofighter in Neuburg Neuburg s most prominent Eurofighter pilot, Commanding Officer Lieutenant Colonel Andreas Pfeiffer Every year the Eurofighter Partner Companies undertake a Press Tour to highlight the Eurofighter activities in one of the Partner Air Forces. In October 2008 more than 50 journalists travelled to Neuburg to gather first hand information on the German Air Force plans with Eurofighter Typhoon. At Fighter Wing 74 in Neuburg North of Munich Wing Commander Lieutenant Colonel Andreas Pfeiffer welcomed the group. The wing is operational with Eurofighter Typhoon since early this year. Crews of JG 74 protect Southern Germany s air space first together with the F-4F Phantom II. After phasing out of the Phantom at Neuburg end of May, Eurofighter Typhoon is now in charge since 3 June Ten aircraft served with the wing early Autumn, thus guaranteeing the QRA duties (Quick Reaction Alert). This calls for two armed aircraft plus 2 reserve in 15 minute readiness. The weapons are currently IRIS-T and the Mauser 27mm cannon. An external fuel tank is carried on the centre fuselage station to increase time on station. The wing had received the first aircraft in July 2006 and has already acquired more than 2000 flying hours with the type. It is a much more stable platform than we expected, said LtCol Pfeiffer in Neuburg. The wing achieves a availability rate better than 50 %. And thus is able to meet all the operational requirements for air policing. The whole fleet of the German Air Force has surpassed the 10,000 flying hours mark late in autumn this year. Germany had agreed to divert five Eurofighter Typhoon from the production line to Austria. These aircraft are now badly missed by the two wings, JG73 Steinhoff and JG74. With deliveries of Tranche 2 underway this situation will change soon and the wings in Rostock/Laage and Neuburg will benefit from this. The wings final strength shall be 35 aircraft each, when all Tranche 1 aircraft had gone through the R2 retrofit for the Full Operational Capability of Block5 standard. Also six aircraft already in operation with the German Air Force will be replaced by additional Tranche 2 Eurofighter Typhoons. So in total the German Air Force will only take delivery of 32 Tranche 1 aircraft, but will receive 11 additional Tranche 2 aircraft. Colonel Joachim Vergin, Chief of the Operations Branch in the German Air Force Command in Cologne, elaborated on his air force s plans with Eurofighter Typhoon. With Fighter Wing 73 in Rostock/Laage focussing on training, JG74 is the first of four wings that will operate Eurofighter Typhoon. Preparations are already under way to accept first aircraft in Fighter Bomber Wing 31 Boelcke in Nörvenich near Cologne end of next year. This wing will operate the aircraft in multirole missions, with Eurofighter Typhoon replacing Panavia Tornados. Two years later the Richthofen Fighter Wing 71 in Wittmund will receive Eurofighter Typhoon and operate the system in the air defence role. This will also terminate operations with the F-4F Phantom in the German Air Force Fighter Bomber Wing 33 in Büchel near Cochem/Mosel will be the fifth Eurofighter Typhoon wing of the German Air Force. This wing will also operate the aircraft in multi-role tasks. The German Air Force plans to keep two additional wings in operation with Panavia Tornado, for reconnaissance and electronic combat. With increasing numbers of aircraft in operation the Air Force plans to expand their tactical training. The pilots of JG74 are already increasingly using the Link 16 capabilities of the MIDS (Multifunction Information and Distribution System). And intensified weapon training is also on the agenda for Deployments to Decimomannu, Sardinia, and to the UK are planned. Training at Rostock/Laage now includes the first German pilots fresh from the training in the US. They started in August Also pilots of the Austrian Armed Forces receive their Eurofighter training at JG73, and this will also include pilots, who are receiving their basic jet training in Canada. The ASTA simulators play an important role in the training process and allow a relatively low number of flying hours before a pilot goes solo on Eurofighter Typhoon. The German Air Force plans to link their simulators, so pilots can train over distance with their colleagues in other wings. wh Eurofighter maintenance crews look after their new jets in a modern environment constructed to the purpose This year s press tour attracted more than 55 journalists from eleven nations Eurofighter Typhoon operated alongside the F-4F Phantom II until June 2008 Scramble! Fighter Wing 74 has two jets in constant Quick Reaction Alert readiness

5 eurofighter review - programme - - programme eurofighter review 9 EADS Military Air Systems Role in Eurofighter National Partner and Leader Final assembly all aircraft for the German Air Force and for Austria come from Manching The German Air Force s national industrial Eurofighter partner is EADS Military Air Systems (MAS), a business unit of EADS Defence & Security. The Division integrates most of the defence activities in the world s second largest aerospace company, EADS. It has two other business units: Defence and Communication Systems mainly based in France and Defence Electronics headquartered in Ulm. And it is taking the German share in Europe s top missile maker, MBDA. In 2007 the Division generated a turnover of 5.5 billion Euro, the share of Military Air Systems being 2.1 billion Euro. EADS Military Air Systems is a fully integrated international unit with a workforce of approx. 7,900, including approx employees in Getafe, Spain. The business portfolio of EADS MAS is based on three pillars: Combat Air Systems, mainly Eurofighter Typhoon, Mission Air Systems and Services. The Aerostructures business based in Augsburg at the former Messerschmitt facility has been transformed into Premium Aerotec GmbH, a unit that also includes former EADS sites Nordenham and Varel since 1 September Germany like the United Kingdom has a 33 per cent share in the Eurofighter development. Consequently the work share in development for the German side of EADS MAS is focussing on vital systems of the aircraft. EADS MAS therefore holds the System Design Responsibility for Eurofighter Typhoon s Flight Control System (FCS). Military Air Systems has already been responsible for the FCS of the Panavia Tornado, and is a world All centre fuselage sections are being equipped in Manching leader in this technology area with expertise acquired with the German VTOL programmes VJ-101, VAK-191 and Dornier 31. The German engineers also developed the Flight Control System of the only X aircraft the United States ever undertook in international cooperation, the X-31. This unique test aircraft demonstrated the advantages of extreme agility in post-stall maneuvers. Besides leading the FCS team and based on the agreed System Design Responsibilities engineers of MAS also developed the Attack/ Identification Subsystem, had responsibility for minimizing Eurofighter s Radar Cross Section, for the hydraulics, the landing gear, for integrating the gun and performing a Major Airframe Fatigue Test. Also the Design Responsibility for the centre fuselage section is with the German side of Military Air Systems. Manching is also home of the Messerschmitt Flying Museum, the media obviously liked it The production work share of Germany is 30 per cent and that equals the production of all centre fuselages sections for all Euro-fighters under contract, currently 707. They are built in Augsburg and Lemwerder with equipping performed in Manching. And all 180 aircraft for the German Air Force are assembled at their Manching site. Also based in Manching is the Aircrew Synthetic Training Aids (ASTA) programme management of Eurofighter GmbH. The full mission simulators and cockpit trainers for all nations are produced there. And Manching will be the major site of Military Air Systems including the headquarters, after all departments from Ottobrunn will have transferred to the air base near Ingolstadt in the North of Munich by end of In Eurofighter export the EADS unit had succeeded in acquiring the first international for Eurofighter Typhoon outside the four nation partnership with Austria signing up in Consequently the final assembly for the Austrian aircraft takes place in Manching. Nine aircraft have so far been assembled and handed over to Eurofighter GmbH for delivery to Austria. And of course the German unit benefits from The centre fuselage section is the heart of the aircraft requiring kilometers of cable the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia s order by building the centre fuselages and contributing to Integrated Logistic Support. Based on the Eurofighter export philosophy, the German Partner Company is responsible for three major export campaigns: India, Switzerland and Greece. The pre-campaigns in Bulgaria and Croatia also are led by EADS MAS. EADS Defence Electronics contributes to Eurofighter Radar and Avionics Partner EADS is a major industrial player in the Eurofighter Typhoon programme. But besides Military Air Systems, the National Prime, the Defence Electronic business unit of EADS Defence & Security also plays a key role in development and production of key components for the system since the beginning of the programme. Night and all weather operation require complex and stable avionics and sensors with substantial Defence Electronics involvement Defence Electronics is a unit with sites in Germany, France, Belgium, the UK and the USA. The unit has roughly 4,000 employees and an annual turnover of approx. 1 bn Euro. It is headquartered in Ulm and structured in four business lines: Electronic Warfare & Mobile Systems, Sensors & Product Support, Military Mission Avionics and Test & Services. For Eurofighter Typhoon the unit developed and produces subsystems of the Captor radar and the Defensive Aids Subsystem Praetorian. In respect to mission avionics Defence Electronics is responsible for the Digital Map Generator, the Armament Control System, the Maintenance Data panel, IFF Transponder Interrogator, and several other items. Defence Electronics is partnered in two consortia, Euroradar and EuroDASS. Together with Galileo Avionics in Italy, Indra in Spain and Selex Sensors and Airborne Systems in the UK, the unit is producing the CAPTOR radar, the primary sensor of Eurofighter with more than State-of-the-Art capability. The EADS Defence Electronics team is responsible for the Waveguide unit, and shares responsibility with Indra in the Antenna/Scanner, the Processor and the Receiver with Selex. With all radar sets for Tranche 1 delivered, production of 236 radars for Tranche 2 plus 15 originally contracted for Austria and 72 for the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia s aircraft. The CAPTOR I-Band pulse Doppler/monopulse radar uses pulse compression and has a

6 eurofighter review - programme - - export eurofighter review 11 The CAPTOR Radar is the main sensor for Eurofighter Typhoon. Defence Electronics builds the waveguide unit and contributes to the antenna/scanner, the receiver and the processor. The Active Electronic Scanning Antenna already flew on Eurofighter Typhoon in 2007 with very promising results tremendous target detection and tracking range. Its software is fully programmable and operation is automated. High reliability has been demonstrated in service. Defence Electronics has acquired experience in airborne, ground based and space based active array antennas. With an own production facility for T/R (Transmit/Receive) modules based in Ulm, the unit has a capacity to produce 100,000 modules per year. These modules are the key component also for the CAPTOR Active Electronic Scanning Antenna Radar (CAESAR), the industrial consortium is looking into since some years. The highlight of the AESA activities clearly were the flights of the CAESAR demonstrator (= Captor AESA Radar) on Development Aircraft DA5 in Manching, Germany, last year. Four flights were being conducted with very promising results, the first on 8 May. EuroRadar is convinced that this new technology would further improve the operational capabilities of the radar, but even more so increase reliability by benefiting from high Mean-time between Failure rates through not moving parts and low voltage. This would finally lead to reduced life cycle costs and higher mission availability. The project is in prototype stadium and if customers are ready to sign up for this technology, the radar consortium could have the new radar ready complying with the Eurofighter schedule. First aircraft for Saudi Arabia flies in Warton Soon to be six The Government-to-Government Understanding Document between the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the United Kingdom regarding the modernisation of the Saudi Armed Forces has, since its December 2005 signature, generated an enormous amount of interest and publicity. The agreement to export 72 Eurofighter Typhoon weapon systems to the Middle Eastern nation represented a power shift in the fighter aircraft market, installing Eurofighter Typhoon as the market leader and confirming the type as the only credible alternative to U.S. products. With the first aircraft for Saudi Arabia due for delivery in 2009, the clock has been ticking. On 20 October, tangible evidence of the behind-the-scenes effort was on display as Eurofighter Typhoon ZK060, completed Eurofighter Typhoon in the livery of the Kingdom s Air Force, taxiing to take-off with two-tone grey Saudi livery, powered over the runway at BAE Systems Warton base and lifted off for its maiden flight. The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia are, after Austria, the second export customer for Eurofighter Typhoon, with this milestone flight marking the start of an initial flight test programme for the Saudi aircraft ahead of deliveries next year. BAE Systems is the prime contractor for all Eurofighter Typhoon-related issues in the Kingdom. The contractual documentation covering the Eurofighter consortium s involvement in the supply of aircraft was signed in December Directly linked to the Saudi acquisition is the progress being made on agreeing a partnered support approach, with the British Eurofighter Partner Company offering significant levels of opportunity for Saudi industry, specifically through the development of an engineering and manufacturing footprint and a Centre for Arab Excellence. Phillip Lee

7 eurofighter review - flight test - - flight test eurofighter review 13 Flight Test Achievements More Capabilities! In a combined effort between German Air Force, Operational Test Centre WTD 61 and EADS in-flight refuelling trials started with German Air Force Airbus A310 MRTT In the same week that the first Tranche 2 aircraft to be delivered to a customer Air Force touched down at RAF Coningsby, the flight test programme for the enhancing capabilities that will be inserted onto the same aircraft in 2011 got underway. On the morning of 24 October, Instrumented Production Aircraft Two (IPA2) lifted off from Alenia Aeronautica s Caselle plant near Turin carrying the advanced Paveway IV air-to-surface weapon. The first phase aeromechanical integration tests with the new 500lb precision-guided store focussed on flutter and vibration investigations and were run by Alenia. The programme will then be expanded across the consortium as P1E weapons trials with IPA1 at BAE Systems (in the United Kingdom) and IPA4 at EADS CASA (in Spain) get underway. This flight test phase will also include the 1000lb dual mode precision-guided EGBU-16 bomb. The data recorded in these initial trials will all the air vehicle aspects of the P1E capability development to be progressed, to a point at which IPA7 of EADS Germany will join the air vehicle trials next year to prove handling qualities and carefree handling with the Paveway IV weapon. Elsewhere across the test and evaluation programme, IPA2 and IPA4 have been employed in the further development of the Direct Voice Input (DVI) system. Service pilots from across the nations have all been involved as the development teams set about completing the templates in the voice recognition software. To a degree, the work carried out up to now has been successful, but further development on the DVI system is required with the recognition-based results offering variations across each national pilot. IPA2 s work, in particular, completed a phase of testing combining the HEA helmet and DVI with the mask. Another first was achieved in October with the successful in-flight refuelling with an Airbus A310 Multi Role Tanker Transport, operated by the German Air Force, as a combined effort of WTD 61, the Official Flight Test Center of the German Defence Procurement Agency (BWB), the German Air Force and Military Air Systems (MAS) of EADS Defence & Security in Manching. IPA3 and IPA7 were employed for this task with flights lasting up to five hours. NETMA has been extremely keen to have Eurofighter Typhoon cleared for air-to-air refuelling on all existing Tanker platforms to ensure full interoperability during all allied operations anywhere in the world. Certification for the A310 Tanker is expected by the end of the year with a total of nine flights planned to achieve this. And tankers again, in-flight refuelling tests of a twin-seat Eurofighter Typhoon with a KC-130J Hercules of the Italian Air Force in the tanker version have been successfully completed in Decimomannu, Sardinia, early November. The aircraft, Italian IPA2, has accomplished flight tests through 5 missions (including three in one day only), of which one in a clean configuration, the others with a configuration with three external fuel tanks, two under the wings and one on the centre station under the fuselage. During these tests, including a night one, the Eurofighter Typhoon made eight wet contacts with the tanker, i.e. with actual fuel transfer by the C-130J. The Italian Air Force has started two years ago to convert up to eight C-130Js into a tanker configuration. Various software packages have been seeing some flight time over the Summer and Autumn months. IPA2, IPA3 and IPA4 have all completed their contributions on the socalled Service Release Package SRP4.3, which is the final software release for the Block 8b standard covering multi-ship campaigns. Also, the 5.1 software, also known as the Final Operational Capability software, has made its first flights on the IPAs, and it will form the basis for all Tranche 2 standard and beyond aircraft. Finally, on 15 August, IPA3 was handed over to the German Procurement Agency (Bundesamt für Wehrtechnik und Beschaffung, BWB), a branch of the Ministry of Defence. Although the aircraft may return to the flight test programme in future, it remains, for now, under national German control. Italian Air Force KC-130J Tanker refuelling Eurofighter Typhoon. The trials were concluded within one week IPA7 taking fuel from the A310 MRTT, the first tanker aircraft in service with the German Air Force Phillip Lee Flight tests for Phase 1 Enhancement started with Paveway IV trials in Italy

8 eurofighter review - development business - - programme eurofighter review 15 Changing the way we undertake Development Business Project Foundation The Eurofighter programme is at a critical point in its lifecycle. As the Main Development Contract comes to an end and the operational fleets become larger and more mature, the industrial consortium behind euro fighter Typhoon must have in place different arrangements to support the ongoing development of capabilities, in line with what the Customer community needs, and can afford, through the life of the fleet. There is a recognition across all parties that this can not be achieved through more of the same. The facilities, processes and practises appropriate for the initial development of the aircraft cannot be sustained by the budgets available for through life support, while the development timescales which may have been acceptable in the past are not acceptable to meet the needs of the partner Air Forces. The consortium has been charged with finding ways to do more, more quickly, and using less resource than was the case in the past. Industry and the Customer are both convinced that improvement is now urgent. Introducing Project Foundation. Project Foundation is a change programme addressing improvements to the way the industrial consortium undertakes development activity. The focus is primarily, but not exclusively, on major weapon system capability improvements, for example new weapons, sensor and communications enhancements etc. The project team will seek to streamline all aspects of the capability improvement process, including how development is contracted and managed, the processes, attitudes and strategy therein, and ensuring that the development itself carries the necessary preparations for fleet-wide embodiment / deployment and supportability. The project was launched through a consortium definition phase in Spring this year, which presented recommendations to the euro fighter Supervisory Board in June. Those recommendations were endorsed by the Supervisory Board and Foundation was set up as an Implementation Programme to run into Spring The recommendations were also shared with NETMA who, in July, were authorised to work alongside Industry on the initiative. This level of strong support underlines the recognition at these levels that we have to deliver improvements from Foundation. The Project primarily involves Industry personnel in the euro fighter Partner Companies and in euro fighter GmbH. In particular, there is a core team established in euro fighter GmbH and they work with personnel from across the consortium and the Joint Teams through a series of task teams addressing particular aspects of the project work. In addition, NETMA have nominated a team of people to work alongside Industry on the project and, increasingly, input and support will also be needed from the Nations. Some key suppliers will also need to become involved. With the Main Development Work concluded, industry reshapes future development processes to better meet the requirements of the Air Forces At this stage, the scope of the work is focusing on the following areas: Front End development processes including Requirement Capture / Definition / Initial Design, with supporting Maturity Measurement / Management, Trade-off and Review processes; Back End processes including System Test, problem investigation / fixing, Certification and Qualification; Product Strategy / Product Architecture (primarily Avionics); Contracting and Management of Development; More effective ILS interlinkage ( end to end process). The work is specifically developing through application, as relevant, onto the P1E and Next Batch of Enhancements (NBE P2E et al) programmes. In Industry, the project is overseen day-today by a core team in euro fighter GmbH supported by a Steering Committee drawn from euro fighter Partner Company and euro fighter management. The project reports to the euro fighter GmbH Board of Management and to the euro fighter Supervisory Board, who ensure appropriate governance is observed and provide authority for the Project s work. The Steering Committee provide the first level of support to decisions affecting the project. Specific decisions to implement changes arising from Foundation work will be authorised by the appropriate bodies within the euro fighter Programme. The project is due for completion in late Spring Phillip Lee Presenting the New COO Managing the Programme The Eurofighter Board of Management consists of the Chief Executive Officer and three Chief Operating Officers. One of them is the COO Programmes overseeing the Management of the existing contracts. Since 1 September 2008 this position is held by Trevor King. A good reason to present him to a wider Eurofighter community. Trevor joined BAE Systems in 1976 as an under-graduate apprentice taking Aeronautical Engineering at Loughborough University. After graduating, he worked in Future Projects involved with Advanced Short Take Off Combat Aircraft to replace the Harrier and Jaguar. In 1987 he moved in the Commercial Directorate working on preparations and pricing for Al Yamamah 2, then in early 1991, he was re-assigned as Head of Strategy and Planning responsible for Military Aircraft Limited's Business Plan and the merger team creating the Dynamics/Matra Joint Venture. In 1991, Trevor transferred to Farnborough to establish the Defence Company Headquarters formulating overall Defence Business Strategy & Planning, in particular working on the planned future divestment of Royal Ordnance. He came back to the Military Aircraft Division in 1993 as Head of Project Harrier II (UK) working with Mc- Donnell Douglas (USA) delivering the new build Harrier T10, the establishment of 20R OCU Squadron at RAF Wittering and the update of Harrier GR7. Trevor King (right) was BAE Systems Eurofighter Typhoon Programme Manager since 2004 In 1995, Trevor was appointed Operations Director, Eurofighter Integrated Logistics Support where he was responsible for co-ordinating, securing and negotiating the Procurement contracts with the Nations to secure eleven Support contracts valued at over 1.5B over 10 years. In 2000 as In Service Support Director he led the UK team to deliver the full range of support to the RAF, culminating in 2003 with the successful Typhoon entry into service with the Royal Air Force under "Case White". In early 2004, he was appointed to the position of Programme Director for Typhoon, with responsibility within BAE Systems for completing the development of Eurofighter, the BAE Systems share in building 148 Tranche 1 production aircraft (55 UK delivered between 2004 and 2007), the BAE Systems contribution to development and build of the 236 new Tranche 2 and 15 Austrian exports. In 2007, the role extended to secure and launch the next phase of Typhoon development (First Batch Enhancements) and build of 72 aircraft for Saudi Arabia. In 2007 sales were 900M and workforce In August 2008 Trevor joined Eurofighter GmbH in the post of Chief Operating Officer Programmes. Trevor is married with a son and a daughter. In his spare time he plays golf, enjoys bird watching and listening to music. What is in your primary focus with the new assignment? The main responsibilities in my current post are to manage the contracted business spanning the full life Trevor King cycle development, production and in service for the Eurofighter consortium. To manage the four subcontractors; Alenia, BAESystems, EADS D, EADS C deliver these obligations. To lead the interface for this business with our customers NETMA, the Republic of Austria and the BAESystems Prime Contract Office for Salam. Further I lead the responsibility at EF GmbH for Project Management and plan, continuing the existing good work and further enhance our capabilities in this key area. A major prerequisite to achieve I see the need to evolve the working environment where all our colleagues can contribute the most and at the same time can live to their own expectations. So are you looking to achieve over the next few years? Top of my agenda is to further enhance our relations to the customer. The aim of the whole consortium is to deliver to the expectation of the customer and at the same time satisfy the demands of our shareholders. As our recurring business is peaking with production for Tranche 2 fully underway, maintaining the momentum of deliveries to the customer including the first aircraft to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia are a primary objective. Clearly an area of focus is contributing to our mutual efforts that ensure customer can make best use of the weapon system in service. Looking further into the future, the consortium will offer enhancements to the weapon system. A key objective is to maintain weapon system capability, supporting the Chief Operating Officer Capabilities and the Chief Financial and Commercial Officer in this effort. And last but not least, it is in all of our interest to strengthen our position in the export market, so supporting the sales activities of the consortium inside Eurofighter GmbH and with the Partner Companies is certainly a major motivation.

9 eurofighter review - exhibitions - - exhibitions eurofighter review October: Athens, Greece Eurofighter Typhoon at home and abroad Global exhibit Exhibitions are a platform to simultaneously communicate many messages to all target groups. During home events such as ILA Berlin and Farnborough International, the agenda is not only to demonstrate programme benefits to the key parliamentarians and military officials of the core customer, but, October: Yokohama, Japan equally, to feed the interests of the taxpaying public visitors so that they also exit the show with rose-tinted Eurofighter Typhoon spectacles! Future business, however, depends on tailored messages being transmitted to the right people. Competition for place and atten- Japan Aerospace, Yokohama The Japanese Air Force took every opportunity to fly the aircraft in the Cockpit Demonstrator the exhibition team brought to Yokohama Even before the build-up phase for the Yokohama-based show could get underway, the Japanese Ministry of Defence came out to confirm the rumours of a delay of up to 18 months for the release of the Request for Proposal in its F-X Fighter Competition. Undeterred, the BAE Systems-led, Alenia Aeronautica-supported campaign team descended on the land of the rising sun with the simple message that Eurofighter Typhoon is the best available weapon system for Japan s Air Force requirements. Overall, the Eurofighter team s inaugural participation was successful. Specific brief- tion is fierce. Over a three-week period traversing September and October, the Eurofighter export campaign teams were put through their paces at high-profile events in Romania, Japan and Greece. ings and demonstrations were given to Major General Hirata, Director Defense Department, ASO, Major General Fukui, Logistics Department, ASO, Major General Nakashima, Operations Dept, ASO, Lieutenant General Nagashima, Air Development and Test Command, Mr Hirose, METI, Mr Katase, Mr Shikina and Mr Nunobe, IHI, Lieutenant General Nagata, Commander Air Defense Command, Lieutenant General Iwasaki, Mr Matsuo and Mr Baba, Internal Bureau, Major General Marumo, Head of F-X PO and Mr Shimizu, MELCO, all co-ordinated by Sumitomo Corporation. In addition, a number of interviews were given by Mr Nigel Whitehead, BAE Systems Group Managing Director, Programmes and Support to journalists from the Nikkei, Wing Weekly and Wing JA2008 Show News. Although it s widely documented that the Japanese Government are lobbying the United States regarding the potential export of the F-22, the continuing reluctance of the Americans to release the jet for foreign military sales leaves Eurofighter Typhoon in a strong position in the F-X Competition. The eventual contract could be worth up to 50 aircraft with deliveries expected to start around Defendory International The financial constraints placed on Greece through hosting the 2004 Summer Olympic Games took a heavy toll and, as a result, reduced the urgency on major Hellenic procurement programmes. The re-election of the ruling New Democratic party, it is hoped, will be followed by a direction-setting process and the restarted fighter selection programme September: Bucharest, Romania Black Sea Defense & Aerospace An event still in its infancy having only been inaugurated in 2007, this year s BSDA was the stage for campaign-leading EPC (Eurofighter Partner Company) Alenia Aeronautica to address the influential players in Romanian defence decision-making. The three-day exhibition carried enough weight to attract Romania s Deputy Minister of Defence, the nation s Head of Procurement and the military s Chief of Air Staff, all of whom took an interest in Eurofighter Typhoon. Supporting Alenia through the provision of an aircraft for the static park was the Italian Air Force. The accompanying air- and groundcrew also briefed a procession of Romanian military Defendory International, the showcase event in the Greek exhibition calendar, in its new home at the Hellenikon Center, allowed the EADS-led campaign team the opportunity to reaffirm the consortium s commitment to fulfilling the Hellenic Air Force s requirements. Deputy Defence Minister Ioannis Plakiotakis cutting the ribbon at the Opening Ceremony visitors keen on acquainting themselves with the aircraft. The campaign team, led by Alenia s Giuseppe Paoletti, Campaign Director, and supported by Eurofighter s Vice President Business Development, Peter Meier, also hosted a pres conference for around 25 mostly Romanian journalists where, alongside notes on core programme achievements, they highlighted the benefits that Eurofighter Typhoon would bring to Romania s defence concerns. Chief among them was that, when assessing the threat of the Su-30, only Eurofighter Typhoon out of the competing aircraft (F-16, Gripen) can comfortably take Strategically opposite one another inside the exhibition hall, between them the Eurofighter Typhoon team and their EADS counterparts were able to host the vast majority of the key delegates attending Defendory. These included Ioannis Plakiotakis, Deputy Minister of Defence in Greece, and the Chairman of the Parliamentary Standing Committee for Defence & Foreign Affairs, Panos Kammenos. The Director General of the Armament Acquisitions & Defence Investments General Directorate, Evangelos Vassilakos stopped by as did various high-ranking Hellenic Air Force representatives. Brigadier Generals Georgios Skribas and Spyros Frangos, Chief of Operations and Chief of Maintenance & Logistics respectively amongst them. In addition to the Greek politicians and military visitors, delegations from Bulgaria, India, Qatar, Romania, Saudi Arabia and Turkey were in attendance, as well as representatives from local defence industries and media. Defendory International wrapped up the exhibition circuit for 2008, so far as the Eurofighter Typhoon team is concerned. The first stop in 2009 will be Aero India, Bangalore, in February. Phillip Lee care of business. Paoletti and Meier alluded to the fact that Eurofighter Typhoon fleet effectiveness is the biggest discriminator against the less capable rivals involved in the Romania competition. The procurement contract with Romania could be worth up to 48 aircraft. The Request for Information (RFI) has been responded to on behalf of the consortium by Alenia with a Request for Proposal (RFP) or competitive dialogue on various procurement processes indicated for end 2008 or early In October, Alenia signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) document with Romanian aircraft manufacturer Aerostar on aerospace and engineering collaboration. The terms of this agreement will be activated should Eurofighter Typhoon be selected in the procurement competition. Greek government officials took great interest in Eurofighter Typhoon at Athens

10 eurofighter review weapons - - weapons eurofighter review - Paveway IV Eurofighter s Air-to-Ground Weapons Heavy Punch Eurofighter Typhoon can operate the Paveway with laser-seekers or dual mode seekers sitioning System) data. The Enhanced Paveway II, EGBU-16 and Paveway IV are such dual mode weapons. This capability combines the accuracy and flexibility of the traditional Laser Guided Weapons with allweather GPS guidance. So if there is no laser guidance available or the Laser Seeker cannot detect the reflected energy through cloud, the GPS will provide the bomb guidance to the target.. The EGBU-16 describes a 1000 lbs (450 kg) bomb combined with this new seeker. The three partner air forces from Germany, Italy and Spain call for the integration of this weapon, while the UK wants the integration of Paveway IV, a 225 kg bomb combined with a similar dual mode seeker. Stand-Off Weapons Paveway II dropped by a Royal Air Force Eurofighter Typhoon at trials in the USA earlier this year The Eurofighter Typhoon is in operation with five air forces, mainly in the air-to-air role, but all aircraft of Tranche 1 will be able to drop Laser Guided Bombs or use the gun to attack ground targets. The Block 5 aircraft have this capability already; aircraft of earlier Blocks will have it after attaining Block 5 Full Operational Capability through the Retrofit 2 programme. This means that three LGBs are cleared for these aircraft: GBU-10 and -16 plus Paveway II(UK). The Royal Air Force has already some Tranche 1 aircraft declared multi-role capable with an integrated Laser Designator Pod. These aircraft can drop the Enhanced Paveway II weapon autonomously. In Tranche 2 these air-to-ground capabilities are being extended in steps. Phase 1 will see the integration of a laser designator for all aircraft plus EGBU-16 and Paveway IV weapons, while retaining the GBU-10/-16 capability. Beyond that the air forces envisage the integration of Stand-Off weapons Storm Shadow and Taurus, the supersonic clearance for Paveway IV, Brimstone and possibly the Small Diameter Bomb GBU-39 would be further steps. A modern multi-role/swing-role aircraft like Eurofighter Typhoon has to be able to operate Stand-Off Weapons. Two types are under consideration, Storm Shadow already in Paveway All Laser Guided Bombs already cleared for Eurofighter Typhoon are being produced by Raytheon Missile Systems. The principle of operation is that the seeker homes in on reflected laser energy directed onto a target. Accuracy of the weapons is very high. That is why they are also called Precision Munition. GBU-10 and GBU-16 describe the type of bomb combined with the Paveway II Laser Seeker, namely the MK-84 US 2000 lbs (900 kg) bomb for GBU-10 and the MK-83 US-1000 lbs (450 kg) bomb. While the German, Italian and Spanish air force have a need for the integration of GBU-16, Spain also wants to use the GBU-10. Range for these bombs is given by Raytheon between 15,000 and 40,000 ft. The accuracy of the laser seeker being below 10 m. In the Royal Air Force though, Paveway II stands for the same seeker but combined with a 1000lb (450 kg) UK bomb. The latest development in Laser Guided Bombs is the dual mode seeker that combines the Laser seeker with GPS (Global Po- Storm Shadow has been ordered by Italy and the United Kingdom, amongst others operation with the Italian Air Force and the Royal Air Force, and Taurus already introduced in Germany and Spain. Selected by five countries (Greece, France, Italy, United Arab Emirates and United Kingdom) Storm Shadow is a long range, conventionally armed, cruise missile, optimised for use in pre-planned attacks against heavily defended, hardened and high value fixed targets whose positions are accurately known before the mission. Storm Shadow has been used in the Iraq war by the Royal Air Force. Operating by day and night and in adverse weather, Storm Shadow offers considerable operational capability and provides a large launch window with minimal Fire and Forget workload. It is stealthy and fully autonomous after being fired. After launch, Storm Shadow changes from its firing altitude to very low cruising altitude. Its inertial navigation is continuously updated through information supplied by its navigation system following the ground by digital terrain profile matching and by GPS. This provides the missile with excellent navigational precision and resistance to countermeasures. The passive infrared imagery homing head is activated during the final target approach phase. Automatic target recognition algorithms then compare the actual scene with the memorised scene, identify the designated target and select the target impact point in order to hit the target with very high precision. Storm Shadow has been developed and is produced by Europe s Number One in Missile Systems MBDA, a joint Venture Company of Alenia, BAE Systems and EADS. The TAURUS KEPD 350 is also a modular stand-off missile system for precision strikes against strongly hardened and high-value point and area targets. TAURUS is designed to penetrate dense air defences in very low level terrain - following flight and neutralise high value stationary and semi-stationary targets with its highly effective dual stage warhead system MEPHISTO. It combines excellent penetration capabilities for hard and deep buried targets (HDBT) as well as blast and fragmentation capabilities against highvalue point and area targets. The Programmable Intelligent Multi-Purpose Fuze (PIMPF) of the penetrator enables detonation of the penetrator at pre-selected floors within the target through layer counting and void sensing technology. Brimstone is already in service with the Royal Air Force s Tornados and Harriers TAURUS KEPD 350 is deployed on the German Air Force Tornado IDS aircraft. A procurement contract has been signed by the Spanish Air Force for this missile to equip their EF-18 aircraft. TAURUS KEPD 350 is a product of TAURUS Systems GmbH, a joint venture between LFK-Lenkflugkörpersysteme GmbH (now an integral part of MBDA) and Saab Bofors Dynamics AB for the development, production and global marketing of the TAURUS standoff missile family for precision strike. Brimstone In November 1996 the UK MoD awarded MBDA the development and production contract for Brimstone. In October 2003, a successful series of test firings were carried out as part of the final stages of Brimstone's development phase. During one of these tests, a ripple test firing, three missiles successfully impacted on three different targets with an array of armoured vehicles. Brimstone went into service on RAF Tornados during the course of It has been designed in answer to the UK MoD's requirement for an air-to-surface stand-off anti-tank Fire and Forget missile capable of being engaged from far outside the opponent's combat system. Brimstone 's high flexibility of use is unique in the world. It can be launched from combat aircraft, light armoured vehicles and from the ground. Its millimetric Wave radar seeker ensures target searching and identification 24 hours a day, in all weathers, and is not affected by the smoke and obscurants of today's modern battlefield. Taurus has been ordered by Germany and Spain. Both nations want to operate the weapon with Eurofighter Typhoon 19

11 eurofighter review - weapons - - export eurofighter review 21 Small Diameter Bomb The Small Diameter Bomb (SDB) Weapon System, designated GBU-39 has been developed by Boeing Integrated Defense Systems. SDB Increment I (GBU-39) is the next generation of low-cost and low collateral-damage precision Precision Guided Munition (PGM) The SDB system enables combat strike aircraft to increase the number of targets attacked per sortie while inherently limiting collateral damage against unintended targets. In addition, the SDB System delivers precise, penetrating weapons, day or night, in adverse weather from stand off ranges. SDB is carried by Combat aircraft in external stores locations of internal weapons bays. The 250 lb class GBU-39 munition comes equipped with an Anti-Jam Global Positioning System / Inertial Navigation System (AJG- PS/INS) guidance system that provides navigation of the weapon to the target coordinates. A wing assembly is also attached to the weapon providing additional range. This increased range capability puts more enemy aim points within the footprint of the releasing aircraft thereby allowing the launch aircraft to prosecute more targets on a single pass. The so-called Small Diameter Bomb has been developed by Boeing and is in service with the US Air Force The GBU-39/B payload is a highly effective hybrid warhead affording the warfighter both penetration and blast and fragmentation capabilities. The warhead is coupled with a cockpit selectable electronic fuze. The weapon s design has been optimized to limit the effects of collateral damage due the combination of its precise accuracy and a smaller 250 lb class warhead containing thirty-six pounds of energetic explosive fill. In addition, the warhead has been qualified to meet Insensitive Munition (IM) requirements. Production deliveries started in April 2006 and the system is in full rate production. The US Air Combat Command Commander declared initial operational capability for the SDB System on October 2, fielded ahead of schedule. The SDB System was successfully employed in combat from F-15E Strike Eagles of the 494th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron providing close-air support for ground troops operating in Iraq starting on October 5, The Small Diameter Bomb is of interest to the Eurofighter Partner nations and its integration can be part of future enhancements Eurofighter Typhoon over Switzerland 26 flights have been performed with two aircraft to assess operational capabilities and in-service support characteristics The Swiss Air Force needs a replacement for part of their F-5 fleet, and in 2010 the Parliament in Bern will decide on the procurement of the successor. Already in Summer 2009 the assessment of bid response and flying / technical evaluation of Eurofighter Typhoon and its competitors Gripen and Rafale will lead to Type Selection. On Thursday 5 November two Eurofighter Typhoon aircraft landed in Emmen for their evaluation by the Swiss Procurement Agency armasuisse and the Swiss Air Force. Emmen is not only a Swiss Air Force base, but also home for the famous Patrouille Suisse. The Twin Seaters IPA3 and GT015 had been fitted with Infrared Search and Track System PIRATE plus a reconnaissance capability The Swiss pilots flew with the new Helmet using the Rafael Recce Light pod derived from the Eurofighter Laser Designator Pod. The Eurofighter evaluation in Switzerland is a combined team effort of the German Air Force, the National Test Centre WTD 61 and Military Air Systems of EADS Defence & Security, who all seconded specialized personal. The team was well received by their Swiss counterparts, who were as objective as one could be when taking a look at Eurofighter Typhoon s capabilities. EADS Project Pilot Chris Worning commented that for him it was another exciting experience to fly the Eurofighter over such a beautiful but demanding landscape again, in particular under the ever changing meteorological conditions of November and December. After three weeks of hard work the aircraft and the team left Emmen for home, confident that Eurofighter Typhoon would be the ideal aircraft to meet the Swiss requirements. IPA3 after landing in a powerful air-to-air configuration with six AIM-120 AMRAAM, two IRIS-T and two external fuel tanks

12 eurofighter review - eurojet - - eurojet eurofighter review 23 In 2008 EUROJET Turbo GmbH, the leading military engine consortium, has achieved numerous major milestones for its EJ200 programme. EUROJET further on the route to success The 500th EJ200 production engine produced at MTU in Munich The venue of the celebration in one of the hangars at the Flugwerft Oberschleißheim Speakers at the 500th EJ200 celebration at the Flugwerft Schleißheim: Hartmut J. Tenter, EUROJET Managing Director; Werner Sabarz, Deputy General Manager, speaking on behalf of the NETMA General Manager Antonino Altorio and Major General Karl Muellner as representative of the German Air Force 100th Tranche 2 Engine The entire production of the EJ200 engines is organized into three production stages, called Tranches. After the delivery of the last of the 363 Tranche 1 engines in 2006, they are all successfully powering the Eurofighter Typhoon fleets of the Air Forces of five nations since This year s success story began with the delivery of the 100th Tranche 2 engine to the Royal Air Force on the 9th of June. The engine was assembled at the Rolls-Royce facilities in Bristol, United Kingdom. The production of Tranche 2 EJ200 engines is progressing in line with established plans of the overall Eurofighter Typhoon programme and will ensure production continuity until The EJ200 engines are assembled at the production facilities of the respective partner companies that comprise the EUROJET Turbo GmbH consortium. EUROJET is responsible for the management of development, production, maintenance, support and export of the new generation EJ200 engine. The shareholders are Rolls-Royce (UK), MTU Aero Engines (Germany), Avio (Italy) and ITP (Spain). The EJ200 engine combines the leading technologies of each of the four European companies. 100,000 EFH The EJ200 programme passed another key milestone at the end of October: The EJ200 engine achieved over 100,000 Engine Flying Hours (EFH) in the Eurofighter Typhoon fleets of the Air Forces of the United Kingdom, Germany, Italy, Spain and Austria. The multi-role combat aircraft was introduced The 100th EJ200 Tranche 2 engine produced at Rolls-Royce in Bristol into service with the Air Forces in 2003 and is presently operated by 10 units across five nations. With the addition of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia as the programme s second export customer after Austria, there are 707 aircraft with the potential for more than 1,500 EJ200 engines under contract. The response to the EJ200 of the pilots flying the Eurofighter Typhoon is, without exception, always positive: I am impressed over and over again by the excellent engine handling states Major Marc Thoene, Eurofighter Typhoon pilot in the German Air Force, Fighter Wing 73 Steinhoff. The pilot is equally enthusiastic about the outstanding performance of the EJ200. Optimum maintainability, great reliability and low life-cycle costs are the characteristic features of this engine, says Thoene, adding with a wink, of course, for us, the unprecedented thrust is the most significant one. 500th EJ200 Engine Before the end of what has already been a successful year, EUROJET has another reason to celebrate: On the 5th of November 2008 the 500th EJ200 engine rolled out of the assembly line at MTU Aero Engines in Munich, Germany, and was delivered to the German customer. In recognition of this remarkable achievement, EUROJET invited the representatives of everyone who made this major success happen to the Flugwerft Schleissheim near Munich. Amongst the guests were representatives of NETMA/ Nations (NATO Eurofighter and Tornado Management Agency), the Air Forces of the United Kingdom, Germany, Italy, Spain and Austria, Eurofighter Jagdflugzeug GmbH, Rolls-Royce, MTU Aero Engines, Avio, ITP and other friends of the aerospace community. All in all, more than 160 guests joined EUROJET for this interesting and entertaining evening in the branch of the Deutsches Museum celebrating between the various DA-1, the first Eurofighter Typhoon prototype, on display at Flugwerft Oberschleißheim aircraft and engine exhibits of the last decades, one of them being the celebrated object itself the EJ200. In his moving speech, Hartmut J. Tenter, the Managing Director of EUROJET Turbo GmbH, expressed his gratitude for the effective cooperation, motivation and constant input from all partners, which made it possible to face the demanding challenges and to succeed in ultimately providing the Partner Air Forces with the world-leading engine that they deserve. Future Prospects EUROJET now looks forward to the next upcoming achievement the first engine to achieve 1,000th flying hours installed in a Eurofighter Typhoon. Whether this further milestone in the successful history of the EJ200 programme will be reached this year or at the beginning of next year will become apparent during the next weeks. In either case, 2009 will be another promising year on the route to success of the EJ200 programme.