New Theater For Advanced Fighter Aircraft
The Eurofighter Typhoon will take over the protection of
Austrian airspace July 1, under the leadership of the Joint Armed
Forces Command, Graz, and the Air Surveillance Command, Wals, of
the Austrian military.
The Republic of Austria became the first export customer for
Eurofighter Typhoon following selection of the type in 2003. The
Austrian Air Force will receive a total of 15 Eurofighter Typhoon
aircraft up to 2009, all of which will be stationed with the Air
Surveillance squadron at Zeltweg, Steiermark.
The first of the 15 aircraft was accepted into the squadron last
July. In the 11 months since then, fully armed Eurofighter Typhoons
have been patrolling the skies over the Austrian host stadiums
during the Euro2008 football championships, securing the airspace
together with other aircraft types and ground-based support,
therefore guaranteeing security at the venues.
"The fact that Austrian Eurofighter Typhoons have, after an
internationally comparably short preparation time, reached the
stage where they are ready to take on their mission spectrum,
speaks volumes for the training and dedication of the air and
ground crews assigned to the weapon system," said Aloysius Rauen,
CEO Eurofighter GmbH. "This achievement deserves full recognition
and I would like to therefore congratulate the Austrian Air
Force."
Since the start of June, Fighter Wing 74 of the German Air Force
has placed Eurofighter Typhoon on NATO Quick Reaction Alert duties
for Southern Germany, from their Main Operating Base in
Neuburg/Donau. Italy and the United Kingdom have had Eurofighter
Typhoon aircraft assigned to QRA operations since 2005 and 2007
respectively. In addition, XI Squadron of the Royal Air Force has,
over May and June this year, participated in Exercise Green Flag in
the United States, resulting in the declaration that Eurofighter
Typhoon is, following the integration of the Litening III laser
designator pod, mission ready for multi-role air-to-surface
operations. Two sorties per day with the release of up to six
laser-guided Enhanced Paveway II bombs per aircraft has proven
Eurofighter Typhoon's swing-role capability.
Since Entry-into-Service in Spring 2004, 147 Eurofighter Typhoon
aircraft have been delivered to 10 units across five Air Forces.
707 weapon systems have been ordered by six nations following the
72 on order for the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, with deliveries due to
begin in 2009. More than 47,000 flying hours have been amassed
between the Air Forces and the Test and Evalution fleet as of the
end of June.