AFP, MADRID (AFP) A fault in the landing gear of Eurofighter warplanes stopped the first delivered to Spain from taking part in an airshow on Sunday, Spanish news agency EFE quoted defence ministry sources as saying.
EADS, the European Aeronautic Defence and Space Company, and the Eurofighter construction consortium — comprised of Britain's BAE Systems, Germany's Daimler-Benz Aerospace (Dasa), Italy's Alenia and the Spanish group Casa — issued instructions that planes already built and delivered stay on the ground, the sources said.
No details were given on the type of fault crippling the Eurofighter. The Spanish defence ministry was not available to confirm the report.
Spain's first Eurofighter, delivered Thursday, was to have been one of the stars of the airshow presided over by King Juan Carlos and in which 84 planes are taking part.
The four construction consortium members have ordered 620 of the aircraft.
Britain has ordered 232 aircraft, Germany 180, Italy 121 and Spain 87. Each plane costs around 80 million euros (91 million dollars).
Last year Austria became the first nation outside the consortium to place an order, asking for 18. Greece has committed to 60 with an option for a further 30 aircraft.
The aircraft was officially licensed on June 30, certifying that the plane is airworthy and ready for use.
The single-seat jet is a multi-role, high-speed combat aircraft with a range of 2,500 kilometres (1,560 miles) and can be equipped with a mix of missiles depending on its mission.
Although planning for the aircraft began in 1977, financial worries caused repeated delays.
