Alenia Aeronautica records with great satisfaction another important result reached by the Eurofighter programme in Italy: the Air Force’s pilots have surpassed 10,000 flight hours on the Eurofighter Typhoon, the new-generation defence aircraft in service with two squadrons in Italy.
The aircraft, that operates in Italy from Grosseto and Gioia del Colle air bases, has started being employed three years ago in missions of air police and quick-reaction alert for the airspace control, having inaugurated such operations during the 2006 Winter Olympic Games.
Since that date four other air forces have joined ItAF and the Typhoon fleet in service in Italy, Germany, United Kingdom, Spain and Austria have by now surpassed the total of 50,000 flight hours. By the end of the year also the first Typhoons for the Saudi Arabian Air Force, first Eurofighter’s non-European customer, will be delivered.
With the Typhoons for the four other programme partner nations (Germany, Italy, United Kingdom and Spain), plus the 15 ordered by Austria and the 72 by Saudi Arabia, the Eurofighter programme may well be considered the best ever international technological and industrial success in the field of new-generation defence aircraft.
While the first production-batch aircraft (148, of which 28 for Italy, all delivered) are still undergoing the updating for the basic development’s final standard envisaged for this version, the first standard aircraft of the second production batch (46 planned for Italy) have entered into service; and the Italian Air Force stands out for its being the air force having accumulated more flight hours of the second production-batch aircraft, proving a successful management of the introduction of a new operational and technological standard in the fleet.
The Eurofighter Typhoon is a milestone for the Italian aeronautical industry that with a share of 19% of the programme provides long-term job for 24,000 resources within some 200 companies, and in particular for the Finmeccanica companies, which play an important role with their 36% of industrial participation, in the definition, design, development and production of the new aircraft, the European industry’s technological frontier.
Definition, design, development and production of the Eurofighter, participation all over Europe in over 400 companies and the work of 100,000 people make it the main industrial collaboration programme in the history of the old Continent.
Alenia Aeronautica, a Finmeccanica Company, is the largest Italian aeronautic player which operates world-wide in the commercial and military aviation, unmanned aerial vehicles and aerostructures. Alenia Aeronautica also coordinates the activities of Alenia Aermacchi and Alenia Aeronavali – wholly owned companies – respectively active in the design and manufacturing of military trainer aircraft and in the overhaul, maintenance and modification of military and civil aircraft.
With its joint ventures ATR, SCAC and Superjet International, Alenia Aeronautica is the world leader in the regional turboprop market and a top player in the regional jet sector. Over 2008 Alenia Aeronautica reported revenues of 2,530 millions Euro, backlog for 8,281 million Euros and orders for 2,720 million. The total workforce is 13,907.
