Hand-Over Ceremony Of 200th Eurofighter Production Aircraft to Customers

Hand-Over Ceremony Of 200th Eurofighter Production Aircraft to Customers at EADS Defence & Security’s Military Aviation Centre Manching

(Source: EADS; issued November 24, 2009)

A military ceremony set the scene for the hand-over of the 200th Eurofighter production aircraft from EADS Defence & Security (DS) to the operator, the German Air Force. The event, which summarized all deliveries from the four international final assembly facilities, took place this Tuesday at the Military Aviation Centre of DS’ business unit Military Air System (MAS) and gathered both the industrial as well as the military Eurofighter community.

In his opening speech Bernhard Gerwert, CEO of MAS and chairman of the supervisory board of the Eurofighter GmbH, welcomed particularily the managing director of the international customer management organisation NETMA, Lieutenant General Antonino Altorio and his deputy Werner Sabarz, Lieutenant General Peter Schelzig, Commanding Officer Air Force Command, German Air Force, and Enzo Casolini, CEO of the industrial management organisation Eurofighter GmbH.

Gerwert stated the “delivery of the 200th Eurofighter aircraft representing the best of hightech in defence aeronautics in Europe today.” He showed his gratitude to all parties involved to make this date happen: the customer nations, NETMA, and all partners within the Eurofighter industrial consortium.

In his brief programme overview, Berndt Wünsche, Eurofighter programme director within MAS, recalled the historical challenge which occurred roughly 20 years ago, when the collapse of the Warsaw Pact and the subsequent German reunification necessitated industry and the military to a technical and operational ‘programme-reorientation’ from former Cold-War scenarios.

“Thanks to those realignment checkpoints, our programme now is the only one which is successfully benchmarked and literally ‘hardened’ against current and future threats”, Wünsche expressed. “I’m delighted that there is so much more in the production pipeline after today’s 200th aircraft. With more than 700 aircraft currently in the order book and Mr Casolini’s forecast for around 300 more for export, we all are privileged to jointly work for such a powerful programme”, Wünsche continued.

The 200th Eurofighter production aircraft with the tactical number 30+51 was then handed over to the German Air Force and will serve on active duty with Fighter Wing (Jagdgeschwader) 73 “Steinhoff” at Rostock-Laage in the northeast of Germany.

Military Air Systems is an integrated activity of EADS Defence & Security (DS). DS is a systems solutions provider for armed forces and civil security worldwide. Its portfolio ranges from sensors and secure networks through missiles to aircraft and UAVs as well as global security, service and support solutions. In 2008, DS – with around 23,000 employees – achieved revenues of EUR 5.7 billion.

EADS is a global leader in aerospace, defence and related services. In 2008, EADS generated revenues of EUR 43.3 billion and employed a workforce of about 118,000. (ends)

Eurofighter: 200 Aircraft in Service, Nothing Comes Close

(Source: Alenia Aeronautica; issued November 24, 2009)

The 200th Eurofighter Typhoon produced by the four partner companies of the European consortium, was delivered by EADS Deutschland to the German Luftwaffe today during a ceremony held in Manching, close to Munich, Germany. This milestone makes the Eurofighter Typhoon the only new generation multi-role aircraft to reach the impressive figure of 200 examples in service.

The Typhoons – produced by EADS Deutschland, EADS CASA, BAE Systems and Alenia Aeronautica – are now in service with 12 units in six air forces replacing 11 aircraft types, thus confirming that the Eurofighter is not only the best performing multi-role aircraft available on the market but also the most effective and best value solution to meet the air defence requirements of air forces and nations worldwide. To date the fleet has flown over 70,000 flying hours in total with above average operational availability and unmatched operational performances.

The Eurofighter Typhoon is the choice of the United Kingdom, Germany, Italy, Spain, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and Austrian Air Forces which have in total ordered 707 aircraft.

Recently, four Royal Air Force Typhoon aircraft flew a record breaking flight of 18 hours to the Falkland Islands in the South Atlantic Sea, to take over Quick Reaction Alert (QRA) duties from the Tornado F3s. In similar operational roles, the Luftwaffe has been on NATO air policing duties in the Baltic states; the Italian Air Force is carrying out air policing duties over Albania and the Austrian Air Force – that has received all 15 ordered aircraft – provided security for the air space over a NATO Defence Ministers event in Slovakia.

Enzo Casolini, Eurofighter GmbH CEO, said: “This milestone is the best example of the success of this joint European programme. The Eurofighter Typhoon is not only the world’s leading frontline combat aircraft but is also the biggest industrial collaboration in Europe. Confirming the plan agreed in the past by the four nations for the production of this aircraft means the Eurofighter can keep securing 100,000 jobs across 400 different companies and the huge benefits provided to the four nations’ economies for long terms”.

BACKGROUND NOTES:
Eurofighter Typhoon is the world’s most advanced new generation real multi-role/swing-role combat aircraft available on the market and has been ordered by six nations (Germany, Italy, Spain, United Kingdom, Austria and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia).

With 707 aircraft under contract, it is Europe’s largest military collaborative programme and delivers leading-edge technology, strengthening Europe’s aerospace industry in the global competition.

More than 100,000 jobs in 400 companies are secured by the programme.

Eurofighter Jagdflugzeug GmbH manages the programme on behalf of the Eurofighter Partner Companies: Alenia Aeronautica/Finmeccanica, BAE Systems, EADS CASA and EADS Deutschland, Europe’s foremost aerospace companies with a total turnover of approx. EUR 88 billion (2008).

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