A project originally started by British Aerospace in the early 80s, it was not until 1983 when the combined countries of Germany, the UK, Italy, Spain, and France began to collaborate on what was the FEFA (Future European Fighter Aircraft) program. Production aircraft as a result of the FEFA program were intended to enter service in the mid-1990s, but never materialized due to much delay.
Conflict in aircraft design and scheduling led to France's withdrawal from the program in 1985. In 1986, the remaining nations formed Eurofighter GmbH to handle the then named EFA (European Fighter Aircraft) project which is comprised of British Aerospace of the UK (33%), DASA of Germany (33%), Alenia of Italy (21%), and CASA of Spain (13%). After much political, military, and monetary delay, the first of seven prototypes (Eurofighter DA.1) made its maiden flight on March 29, 1994. Production of service aircraft is slated to commence in 1996, with an in-service year sometime in 2001.
Designed primarily as a single-seat air defence/superiority fighter, the EF2000 will also be able to perform a secondary ground attack role. The basic airframe configuration is a tailless delta-wing with a body structure composed mostly of carbon fibre composites, while main sensors include the ECR90 multi-mode Doppler radar. To enhance agility, the aircraft features two moving canard foreplanes and a quadruplex fly-by-wire digital flight control system. Current orders stand at approximately 600 aircraft - UK 250, Italy 130, Germany 130, and Spain 87.
Prime Contractor: Eurofighter GmbH
Nations of origin: UK, Germany, Spain, and Italy
Function: Multi-role fighter
Crew: 1
Year: 1994
In-service Year: 2000-2002
Engine: Two Eurojet EJ200 afterburning turbofans, 20,250 lb thrust each
Dimensions
Wingspan: 10.5 m / 34 ft 6 in
Length: 14.5 m / 47 ft 7 in
Height: 6.4 m / 21 ft
Weight: 21,495 lb empty / 46,297 lb max. take off
Speed: 2,125 km/h / 1,321 mph
Armament: One Mauser Mk27 27mm cannon plus up to 14,330 lb including bombs, rockets, missiles, and three fuel tanks on eleven external points
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