The Italian air force has accepted its first of 47 Tranche 2 Eurofighters from Alenia Aeronautica.

Performed on 14 November, the hand-over ceremony took place at the service's Grosseto air base, home to its Eurofighter-equipped 4th Wing. Aircraft IS020 is the 20th single-seat Eurofighter to have been built for the Italian air force, which has previously accepted 28 Tranche 1 production aircraft.

One further single-seat example was diverted for delivery to export operator Austria, with a replacement included in Italy's revised Tranche 2 total.

 Eurofighter T2 - Alenia
© Alenia Aeronautica

Tranche 2 deliveries to Italy will continue until 2013, while discussions on the nation's stated Tranche 3 commitment for a further 46 aircraft are continuing, in conjunction with programme partners Germany, Spain and the UK.

Alenia is also leading export activities for the Eurofighter Typhoon in Brazil, Romania and Turkey.

For more Eurofighter news and images, see Flight's aircraft profile

Source: Flight International