Typhoon, the RAF's newest fighter aircraft, has passed its latest major hurdle on the way to becoming a fully fledged multi-role combat aircraft, with flying colours.

While taking part in Green Flag, a major exercise held at Nellis United States Air Force (USAF) Base in Nevada, seven Typhoons from XI Squadron, based at RAF Coningsby, Lincolnshire, dropped munitions and fired their cannons with such precision that they have been declared combat ready by the target date of 1 July 2008.