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Eurofighter DA4 re-enters flight test programme

16 Nov 2001

Eurofighter DA4, one of the two development aircraft based at BAE Systems Warton, has recently re-entered the flight test programme following an extensive period on lay-up.

During the lay-up the aircraft underwent significant upgrades to the Avionics and Power generation systems, as well as completing the first phase of the Defensive Aids Sub System (DASS) ground trials in the Electronic Warfare test facility at the Warton facility. The trial was a great success and was a major risk reduction activity for the standard of aircraft beyond Initial Operational Clearance.

DA4's first flight back in the programme concentrated on 'shaking down' all the major systems of the aircraft, with particular emphasis on the engines, radar, Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air Missile (AMRAAM) integration and Ground Proximity Warning System (GPWS).

Pete Travis, Flight Development Integrated Product Team Leader, said: 'Overall the aircraft was in great shape after a long period on the ground, which is testament to the ground crew team that prepared it for flight.'

Over the coming weeks the aircraft will be involved in priority flight trials to support the initial clearance into service of the aircraft next year. In particular it will concentrate on assessment of the weapon system as a whole including AMRAAM and Advanced Short-Range Air-to-Air Missile (ASRAAM) integration with the radar and GPWS. In the medium term a first flight assessment of the DASS, including on-range flight trials will be carried out at RAF Spadeadam in Northumberland, the RAF's Electronic Warfare test range.

The AMRAAM flight trials will lead up to the first fully guided firing of an AMRAAM against an airborne target, at the Benbecula deep-sea range off North West Scotland early in the new year.
About Eurofighter Typhoon:

The Eurofighter Typhoon is the world's most advanced swing-role combat aircraft, developed by the leading aerospace companies, BAE Systems, EADS Deutschland, Alenia Aerospazio, and EADS Spain, of the four partner countries, the UK, Germany, Italy, and Spain. Eurofighter Typhoon features unrivalled technology, designed for the defence needs across the next forty years.

Agile, stealthy, twin-engined and designed to operate from hastily prepared bases and small runways and for worldwide operations. It is equipped with advanced multi-mode, pulse-Doppler Radar and an extensive range of sensors and electronic countermeasures.

The aircraft's ability to gain air superiority Beyond Visual Range (BVR) and in close combat, and at the same time deliver high sortie rates against naval and ground targets in all weathers with a variety of weapons, demands close attention to pilot workload. In Eurofighter the pilot flies through use of a computerised flight control system, which offers full carefree handling.

A strong emphasis has been placed on reducing cost of ownership in addition to outstanding performance and flight safety. Reliability, low cost of maintenance and a sophisticated on-board testing system ensure ease of day to day management and through life costs that make the Eurofighter Typhoon less expensive to run than the generation of aircraft it is designed to replace.

The Eurofighter partner nations will take delivery of 620 aircraft: 232 for the UK, 180 for Germany, 121 for Italy and 87 for Spain.

Marketing of Eurofighter Typhoon continues to draw strong interest around the world with active campaigns currently underway in South Korea, the Netherlands, Asia, Greece and Norway.