![](http://www.alamy.com/thumbs/6/166F5694-48B0-44AC-9A99-A053BA677459/A07CPH.jpg)
RAF Eurofighter at Take Off from RAF Kinloss. XAV 4117-390
The Eurofighter Typhoon is a twin-engine multi-role canard-delta strike fighter aircraft, designed and built by a consortium of European aerospace manufacturers through Eurofighter GmbH which was formed in 1986. However studies began as early as 1979 into what would become the Eurofighter Typhoon. The series production of the Eurofighter Typhoon is now underway and the aircraft has formally entered service with the Italian Air Force and with the Spanish Air Force. 'Initial Operational Capability' is expected to be declared by Germany and the United Kingdom in 2006. Austria has purchased 18 Typhoons, while Saudi Arabia signed a contract on 18 August 2006 for 72 to be built by BAE Systems The United Kingdom had identified a requirement for a new fighter as early as 1971. By 1979 the West German requirement for a new fighter had lead to the development of the TFK-90 concept In 1979 British Aerospace and Messerschmitt-Bölkow-Blohm presented a formal proposal to their respective governments for the ECF, the European Collaborative Fighter[3] or European Combat Fighter.[4] In October 1979 Dassault joined the ECF team for a tri-national study, which became known as the European Combat Aircraft.[3] It was at this stage of development that the Eurofighter name was first attached to the aircraft.[5] The development of different national prototypes continued; France with its ACX, the UK with its and and West Germany with its TFK-90.[4] The ECA project collapsed in 1981 for several reasons including differing requirements, Dassault's insistence on "design leadership" and the British preference for a new version of the RB199 to power the aircraft versus the French preference for the new SNECMA M88 As a result the Panavia partners (BAe, MBB and Aeritalia) launched the Agile Combat Aircraft (ACA) programme in April 1982.[6] The ACA was very similar to the BAe , having a cranked delta wing, canards and a twin tail. One major external difference was the replacement o
Size: 4154px × 4631px
Location: RAF Kinloss, Moray, Grampian Region. Scotland. United Kingdom.
Photo credit: © David Gowans / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
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