The Programme 

A Truly European Programme

The Eurofighter Typhoon programme brings together the brightest minds in European aerospace in order to provide a world class weapon system and maintain European security and sovereignty.

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100000+

Skilled People

400+

Companies Involved

680+

Orders

100%

European

The European Consortium

Map of Europe with Partner logos

The partner companies in the programme - Airbus, BAE Systems, Leonardo - manage industry suppliers employing more than 100,000 skilled people across the supply chain, enriching the technology capabilities of the whole European region.

Eurofighter Jagdflugzeug GmbH co-ordinates the programme on the industrial side and NETMA (NATO Eurofighter and Tornado Management Agency) acts as the single point of contact for customers and governments.

100000+

Skilled People

Partner Nations

Map of Europe with highlighted countries

Represented by the partner-companies, the four partner Nations UK, Germany, Spain, and Italy have established a long-term collaboration that provides significant industrial and defence partnership opportunities in Europe.

Eurofighter partners are investing into the future through the access they have to a wide range of technological and programme development opportunities that will take Eurofighter through the exciting phases of its operational life-cycle until 2060 and beyond.

UK Ownership

33%

~ 20,800 Jobs

GE Ownership

33%

~ 25,000 Jobs

SP Ownership

13%

~ 22,000 Jobs

IT Ownership

21%

~ 21,000 Jobs

Partner Companies

Map of Europe with markers for partner companies

Everyday, over 400 companies across all over Europe work together in trusted partnerships. And everyday, the Eurofighter partner Nations governments build on their successful track record of cost-effective investment in Europe’s future aerospace technologies.

Airbus Personnel
Manufacturing facility
Engine inspection

A Unique Network

Map of Europe with network lines connecting

The supply chain has grown into a unique network, enabling Europe to maintain its current advantage over potential air threats.

This network grows with every capability enhancement of the aircraft.

Eurofighter Typhoon offers the required amount of interoperability to partner with assets from other Nations over multiple, complex domains until 2060 and beyond.

Personnel working on aircraft
Wind tunnel
Personnel at manufacturing facility
Inspection

Economic Benefits

Map of Europe with Euro logos

Investing in the Eurofighter programme means investing in Europe's economy, its technological skills-base, its defence industrial leadership and its sovereign security of defence.

Continued commitment will support the future generations of European air combat solutions. Associated socio-economic benefits will be maintained and strengthened.

Customers

Currently, the aircraft is in service with five European Nations and four Nations in the Arabian Gulf. It is fully interoperable with US legacy platforms and provides modern air forces with a compelling strategic advantage in a combining multi-platform fleet.

Following Eurofighter customers long term investment in the programme, they are actively pursuing options for further acquisitions of the aircraft. This includes new builds of Eurofighter in Europe until the year 2035.

680

Aircraft Ordered

Every new customer will join a programme where capability innovation will be driven by the operational experience of these nine Air Forces.

Operating the Eurofighter Typhoon offers its customers access to a world-leading operational and industrial partnership; benefitting from shared experience and knowledge from the Eurofighter programme.

09

Countries with Eurofighter Typhoon in Operation

Key Programme Milestones

  • Intro
  • 1989
  • 1994
  • 2003
  • 2006
  • 2009
  • 2012
  • 2014
  • 2015
  • 2016
  • 2017
  • 2019
  • 2020
  • 2021
  • 2022
  • 2024
  • 2028
  • 2030

  • Intro

    The Eurofighter programme is the most successful European defence collaboration. Built on the strength of four European Nations: Germany, UK, Spain and Italy, and their leading aerospace and defence companies.

  • Construction of the first prototype

    The construction of the first Eurofighter Typhoon prototypes began in 1989 and it was agreed that each of the four parent nations would host the production line and final assembly for the components of the aircraft it was responsible for: Warton for BAE Systems, Manching for EADS Germany, Turin for Leonardo – Aircraft Division and Getafe for EADS CASA.

  • Typhoons making their first test flights

    The Chiefs of Air Staff of Germany, UK, Spain and Italy all agreed on their advanced aircraft requirements, with DA1 and DA2 Eurofighter Typhoons making their first test flights that same year. By 1996, the nations had agreed on the workshare production, and a year later the 500th test flight took place in Manching, Germany. Over the late 1990s and early 2000s the aircraft undertook extensive environmental, weapon firing, in-flight fuelling and supersonic speed tests.

  • Service across the four core Nation's Air Forces

    Between 2003 and 2005 the Eurofighter Typhoon was introduced into service across the four core Nation's Air Forces. During this period the aircraft received the Defensive Aids Sub System (DASS), the Multifunctional Information and Distribution System (MIDS), initial Direct Voice Input (DVI) and sensor fusion systems. In 2005 the UK signed an understanding with Saudi Arabia that Eurofighter Typhoon would replace the Saudi Arabian Tornado fleet.

  • First Export Deliveries

    The Austrian Air Force (Luftstreitkräfte) received its first Eurofighter Typhoon in 2007, with Saudi Arabia receiving its first aircraft in 2008.

  • Tranche 2 Deliveries

    The four core Nations of the founding consortium received the second tranche of aircraft, which undertook a unique advanced medium range Air-to-Air missile (AMRAAM) firing trial. The objective was to fire a missile while the radar was in passive mode, demonstrating a key stealth capability.

  • Sultanate of Oman Contract

    In December 2012, a contract for the supply of 12 Typhoon aircraft to the Sultanate of Oman was signed. And in 2013, contracts were signed for the Meteor integration and Phase 2 Enhancements (P2E). In the same year, the 400th Eurofighter was delivered to the German Air Force.

  • Phase 1 Enhancement

    During 2014, the Phase 1 Enhancement (P1E) upgrade entered into service, the Storm Shadow integration contract was signed as well as a contract for the development of Captor-E (E-Scan) radar for Typhoon.

  • Phase 3 Enhancement

    In February 2015, the Phase 3 Enhancements (P3E) contract was signed during the IDEX Defence Exhibition and 2015 also saw RAF Typhoons performing numerous engagements over Syria and Iraq.

  • Kuwait contract

    In April 2016, a contract was signed for the supply of 28 Typhoon aircraft for the State of Kuwait. 2016 also saw a P2E upgrade enter into service.

  • Qatar Contract

    On 10th December 2017, it was announced that the Government of Qatar and BAE Systems entered into a contract for the supply of 24 Eurofighter Typhoon aircraft. This year also marks the success of the dual Meteor firing and the completion of the Brimstone test firing.

  • Centurion project

    In January 2019 the UK Royal Air Force project Centurion entered into service. Centurion included capability enhancement associated with P3Ea, such as the integration of the air-to-surface missile Brimstone.

  • Quadriga contract

    On 11 November 2020 NETMA and Eurofighter signed the Quadriga contract to replace Germany’s Tranch 1 fleet with 38 new Eurofighter Typhoons, which are equipped with the E-Scan radar.

  • Kuwait Delivery

    December 2021 marks the delivery of the first two aircraft to the Kuwait Air Force with P3Eb standard, which includes the E-Scan radar Mk0. The Kuwaiti Eurofighter Typhoons are the firsts to be delivered with the new radar.

  • Halcon Contract

    In June 2022 NETMA and Eurofighter signed the Halcon contract to partially replace Spain's legacy F-18 fleet. In the frame of this contract, Spain receives 16 single-seater and 4 twin-seater fighters equipped with E-Scan radar.

  • Interoperability and connectivity

    The integration of P3Ec is foreseen to improve the interoperability and connectivity (Civil NAV, MIDS upgrades) of the jet, its sensors and the lethality (enhanced E-Scan, METEOR enhancement package), its air vehicle performance (increase of Maximum Take-Off Mass) as well as its survivability and situational awareness (enhanced DASS, IFF).

  • Aerodynamic Modification Kit

    Current Programme 4 Enhancement (P4E) is under negation and shall be available in 2028 to all Nations. Aerodynamic Modification Kit (AMK) is planned to be part of the P4E growth path and will enable an AMK initial clearance assuring more flexible and heavier weapon configurations and new weapon integration. Enhanced data recording capability will be realised through a Ground Data Loader and Recorder (GDLR).

  • Future Combat Air System

    The Eurofighter evolution does not yet end, developments of future technologies are continuing and maturing to assure Typhoon will play a vital role as the Bridge to any Future Combat Air System. Some of the technologies, that will enable Eurofighter Typhoon to be a key enabler at least until 2060, are: a new Avionics Architecture, new generation digital cockpit featuring a Large Area Display, new Glareshields, and Helmet Mounted Display Striker II, and High Speed Data Network (HSDN) in order to ensure the needed bandwidth.