The first of five Tranche 1, Block 5-configured Eurofighter Typhoons delivered to the Italian air force has entered service. The aircraft is also the first for Italy to carry passive infrared airborne tracking equipment (Pirate) radar, made by Galileo Avionica.
Block 5 Pirate features include forward-looking infrared and infrared search and track. Block 5 aircraft also feature an instrument landing system, integrated weapons training in the cockpit and improved manoeuvrability thanks to full use of the Typhoon's digital flight control system and extension of the flight envelope up to 9g at subsonic speeds and 7g supersonic.
By the end of the year Alenia Aeronautica will have delivered 29 Tranche 1 aircraft to Italy.