All Eurofighters in service in Austria now have the latest capability standard for Tranche 1 aircraft. The Austrian Armed Forces’ Eurofighters have now been equipped with enhanced hardware and software capability as part of an upgrade programme. To optimize efficiencies, the work has been done in parallel with the aircrafts’ daily operations by employees of the EADS-division Cassidian at Zeltweg (Steiermark).
The programme included new systems software, the installation of modern equipment with higher performance capability levels, and a number of improvements implemented in cooperation with suppliers.
On behalf of the Eurofighter consortium and the Eurofighter Partner Companies Alberto Gutierrez, Eurofighter CEO, said: “We are pleased that this upgrade programme has been completed in close cooperation with our customer. The Austrian Eurofighters are now on the highest technical and operational level for Tranche 1 aircraft and continue to deliver a substantial contribution to the air surveillance capabilities and national sovereignty of Austria.”
Since entry into service of the very first Eurofighter at the end of 2003, more than 380 Eurofighter have been delivered to six countries: Germany, Great Britain, Italy, Spain, Austria and Saudi Arabia. As seventh customer Oman ordered a total of 12 aircraft in December 2012. Up to now, the whole Eurofighter fleet has completed more than 200,000 flying hours. Since delivery of the first Eurofighter to Austria in July 2007, the 15 Austrian jets have accumulated more than 5,000 flying hours.
The Eurofighter fleet comprises 20 operational units worldwide, with locations in Europe, in the South Atlantic and the Middle East. Specifically there are: 7 units in the UK (4 in Coningsby, 2 in Leuchars and 1 in Mount Pleasant, Falkland Islands); 5 in Italy (2 in Grosseto, 2 in Gioia del Colle, 1 in Trapani); 3 in Germany (Laage, Neuburg and Noervenich) and 3 in Spain (2 in Morón, 1 in Albacete) and one each in Austria (Zeltweg) and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
