Eurofighter, NATO to Advance Typhoon Capabilities

The Eurofighter Typhoon development program received a boost at the Farnborough International Airshow, held last month in Farnborough, England, with an agreement between European aerospace company Eurofighter GmbH and the NATO Eurofighter and Tornado Management Agency (NETMA) to integrate a laser designator pod (LDP) and the Enhanced Paveway II laser-guided bomb on Royal Air Force Typhoons.

Japanese Air Staff Maj. Gen. Hajima Morishita observes a Eurofighter cockpit demonstration led by Mat Molineaux, Royal Air Force squadron leader, at Farnborough International Airshow. (Photo: Eurofighter)

Developed by Europe's leading aerospace companies, the Typhoon is now in service with the Air Forces of Germany, Spain, Italy and the UK. Production of the swing-role combat aircraft is ongoing, with 638 under contract to the four partner nations and Austria, the first export customer. Aloysius Rauen, CEO of Eurofighter, and Peter Worrall, NETMA general manager, signed a contract at the show, where the Typhoon attracted crowds with a display of its capabilities. The new capability is expected to be available to the Royal Air Force for entry into service in the first half of 2008. Initially, the necessary hardware and software will be integrated into Block 5 aircraft, and the Royal Air Force intends to retrofit the full Block 5 capability to other Tranche 1 aircraft. Eurofighter in based in Hallbergmoos, Germany.