Volker Paltzo, CEO of Eurofighter Jagdflugzeug GmbH (www.eurofighter.com) — a multi-national company that co-ord- inates the design, production an upgrade of the Eurofighter Typhoon aircraft — said: “Passing the 500,000 flying-hours milestone underscores the fact that today the Eurofighter Typhoon is the backbone of NATO’s European air defence.

"This aircraft will also be a central pillar in any future European combat air system, developing and integrating key technologies that will feed into that future system.

“The Eurofighter Typhoon has rapidly accumulated hours across the fleet, particularly in recent years. There is now a fleet of almost 500 aircraft protecting Europe’s borders, and there is potential for this number to grow substantially in the coming decades.

"Moreover, in the future, the Eurofighter Typhoon will get a new electronically scanned array radar, an enhanced human machine interface and new weapons.

“Eurofighter is the biggest and most successful defence collaboration programme ever undertaken in Europe. It has provided security, industrial and economic co-operation and sustainment on a previously unseen scale.

It is the model for future defence and industrial collaboration in Europe.”

Clemens Linden, CEO of Eurojet Turbo GmbH (www.eurojet.de), which provides the engines for the aircraft, said: “We have clocked up more than a million hours of engine performance for the EJ200, both in Europe and internationally, and have enjoyed incredible engine reliability.

"There is no doubt that over the first million flying hours, the EJ200 engines have demonstrated that they are the best in their class. Looking ahead to the next million, the engine can be further developed to ensure that the Eurofighter Typhoon will maintain its combat edge.”