Eurofighter Typhoon to begin deployment

GRAZ, Austria, June 30 (UPI) -- Austrian defense officials announced Tuesday marks the first day the new Eurofighter Typhoon combat aircraft will be deployed for securing Austrian airspace.

The Eurofighter Typhoon fighter aircraft, developed by Alenia Finmeccanica, BAE Systems and EADS, will officially begin air surveillance in Austria marking the aircraft's first deployment in Europe and part of the European military collaborative program managed by Eurofighter GmbH.

The aircraft will be flown under the command of the Joint Armed Forces Command in Graz, Austria, and the Air Surveillance Command in Wals, Austria. Officials say the Austrian air force is expected to receive 15 Eurofighter Typhoon aircraft by 2009.

"The fact that Austrian Eurofighter Typhoons have, after an internationally comparably short preparation time, reached the stage where they are ready to take on their mission spectrum, speaks volumes for the training and dedication of the air and ground crews assigned to the weapon system," Aloysius Rauen, Eurofighter GmbH chief executive officer, said in a statement.

"This achievement deserves full recognition, and I would like to therefore congratulate the Austrian air force."

Officials say the Eurofighter Typhoon aircraft have been ordered by Germany, Italy, Spain, England and also Saudi Arabia.