Defence

Tranche 2 deliveries of the Eurofighter Typhoon are under way, with the UK Royal Air Force having accepted its first of 91 aircraft earlier this month. The aircraft, along with a second single-seat example, will be flown to the RAF's Typhoon operating base at Coningsby in Lincolnshire on 21 October, and "will undergo final system checks and modifications before they are released for flight trials", says the UK Ministry of Defence.

The four-nation Eurofighter industry consortium says "the other three [partner] air forces will start receiving their aircraft in the near term," with Germany to get 79, Italy 47 and Spain 34.

Tranche 2 production also includes 72 aircraft for export buyer Saudi Arabia. Riyadh's first single-seat aircraft has been pictured undergoing ground tests at BAE Systems' Warton final assembly plant in Lancashire, and is expected to fly before year-end.