HALLBERGMOOS, Germany, October 24 /PRNewswire/ -- Flight tests for the advanced capabilities covered by the Phase 1 Enhancement (P1E) programme for Eurofighter Typhoon Tranche 2 weapon systems have commenced with today's first flight of a Paveway IV on Instrumented Production Aircraft IPA2 at Alenia Aeronautica's facility in Turin, Italy.
First phase aeromechanical integration tests (Flutter, Vibration) of this new 500lb precision guided store are to be conducted at Alenia Aeronautica. Further trials will follow on IPA1 at BAE Systems and IPA4 at EADS CASA in configurations of up to six air-to-surface stores in order to prove the safe release of the new P1E weapons from the aircraft. This second flight test phase will also include the 1000lb dual mode precision guided EGBU-16 bomb. The test data gained in these trials will allow the air vehicle aspects of the P1E capability development to be progressed.
IPA7 at EADS Deutschland will also join the P1E air vehicle trials in 2009 to prove handling qualities and carefree handling with the Paveway IV weapon.
Avionics flight trials involving all four Tranche 2 standard Instrumented Production Aircraft are to follow this first test campaign, leading to service release of P1E(a) Capabilities in 2011.
The start of P1E flight trials marks a significant step towards the availability of an Enhanced Multi-Role Capability on Eurofighter Typhoon which is being developed under the First Batch of Enhancements Contract, agreed with the Core Nations in March 2007.
Eurofighter CEO, Aloysius Rauen, stated: "The insertion of new capabilities onto Eurofighter Typhoon represents the consortium's drive to provide our customer Air Forces with a weapon system that meets all current and projected mission requirements. These new technologies and new weapons will make the best even better."
Eurofighter Typhoon is the world's most advanced new generation 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 Finmeccanica, BAE Systems, EADS CASA and EADS Deutschland, Europe's foremost aerospace companies with a total turnover of EUR72.8 billion (2007).
High Resolution images of the Eurofighter Typhoon can be downloaded from our web site. Hard Copy images are available on request.
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For More Information contact:
Wolfdietrich Hoeveler
Vice President Communication
Eurofighter GmbH
+49-811-801-555 (Office)
+49-172-832-9751(Mobile)
wolfdietrich.hoeveler@eurofighter.com
Phillip Lee
External Communications
Eurofighter GmbH
+49-811-801-587
phillip.lee@eurofighter.com
For More Information contact: Wolfdietrich Hoeveler, Vice President Communication, Eurofighter GmbH, +49-811-801-555 (Office), +49-172-832-9751(Mobile), wolfdietrich.hoeveler@eurofighter.com; Phillip Lee, External Communications, Eurofighter GmbH, +49-811-801-587, phillip.lee@eurofighter.com
