Eurofighter Typhoon, Kemble 2010 ©Nigel Key
ROLE
Multirole Fighter.
FIRST FLIGHT
27 March 1994.
The Eurofighter Typhoon is a twin-engine, canard delta wing, designed as an air superiority multirole fighter.
Construction of the Typhoon consists of over 80% of composite material which are made up of 70% carbon fibre and 12% glass fibre composites.
The Typhoon is highly manoeuvrable at both low and supersonic speeds and due to its inherent instability can only be controlled by fly-by-wire.
The fly-by-wire also prevents the pilot from exceeding the aircrafts capabilities with control being achieved through ailerons, canards, elevens and rudder.
Although not a stealth aircraft, attention was paid to minimise its radar cross section such as, concealed jet inlets, S-duct air intakes, highly swept leading edges and weapons mounted semi-recessed into the aircraft.
Additionally many significant surfaces of the aircraft such as leading edges, intake edges are coated with radar-absorbent materials.
The cockpit has no conventional instruments but has multi-function head-down displays and incorporates Direct Voice Input and head-up display.
Access to the cockpit is via an integral telescopic ladder which is stowed in the port side of the fuselage below the cockpit.
The aircraft is controlled by a centre stick and left hand throttles. The pilot sits on a Martin-Baker ejection seat with a jettisonable canopy.
The two Eurojet engines have a ‘War’ setting that increases the thrust by 15% and afterburners by 5% for a few seconds without damaging the engine.
PRODUCTION
The Eurofighter Typhoon was produced from 1994, with over 570 built.
ENGINES
2 x Eurojet EJ200’s, producing 26,000 lbf.
40,000 lbf with afterburner.
ARMAMENT
1 x Mauser BK-27 27mm revolver cannon
19,800 lb (9,000 kg) Missile/Bomb/Drop tank load
The sudden end of the Cold War reduced European demand for fighter aircraft and led to debate over the aircraft's cost and work share and protracted the Typhoon's development.
The Typhoon entered operational service in 2003 and is now in service with the air forces of Austria, Italy, Germany, the United Kingdom, Spain, Saudi Arabia and Oman.
The Typhoon had its combat debut during the 2011 military intervention in Libya with the UK's Royal Air Force and the Italian Air Force, performing aerial reconnaissance and ground-strike missions.
Kuwait and Qatar have also ordered the aircraft recently.
| Crew - 1 or 2 (training) |
| Length - 52ft 4in (15.96m) |
| Wingspan - 35ft 11in (10.95m) |
| Height - 17ft 4in (5.28m) |
| Empty Weight - 24,251lb (11,000kg) |
| Max. Weight - 52,000lb (23,500kg) |
| Max. Speed - 1,320 mph (2,125 km/h) |
| Range - 1,800 miles (2,900 km) |
