Aircraft

Export deliveries of the Eurofighter Typhoon moved a step closer today, with EADS conducting the debut flight of a production aircraft for the multinational project’s first export customer, Austria.

To carry the designation 7L+WA in Austrian service, the aircraft is the first of 18 Typhoons now in production for the nation’s air force. The second of six platforms now in final assembly will fly next month, and an initial batch of four aircraft should be delivered to Zeltweg airbase by year-end. The aircraft will replace Austria's Saab J35 Drakens, the last of which were retired in late 2005.

Lasting approximately 1h, Austria’s first Typhoon flight took place from EADS’s Manching site near Munich. The aircraft is required to carry temporary German air force markings throughout its acceptance process.

The Eurofighter partner companies have so far delivered 116 Tranche 1 Eurofighters to Germany, Italy, Spain and the UK, with the nations air forces having flown over 16,300h with the aircraft.

Saudi Arabia is in the final stages of negotiating a 72-strong Typhoon sale with the UK government, with other potential buyers of the multirole type listed as Bulgaria, Denmark, Greece, India, Japan, Norway, Romania, South Korea and Turkey.