Germans get 100th Eurofighter

• Tweet

UNTERSCHLEISSHEIM, Germany, March 4 (UPI) -- The 100th Eurofighter Typhoon built for the German air force has been delivered by Cassidian from its Military Air Systems Center in Manching, Germany.

The twin-engine, multi-role aircraft was flown from the factory to an air base on Thursday and will be operated by the Boelke Fighter Bomber Wing 31 in Noervenich.

"The Eurofighter program is, and remains, one of the essential pillars of Cassidian's business," said Cassidian Chief Executive Officer Bernhard Gerwert. "Eurofighter is the largest European high-tech program and is the most modern multi-role combat aircraft on the market today.

"Together with the German air force, we can be proud that this program is running soundly and successfully."

The Typhoon program is managed by Eurofighter GmbH. Production involves Alenia Aermacchi/Finmeccanica, BAE Systems and Cassidian in Germany and Spain. The canard-delta wing jet has a maximum speed of 1,320 miles per hour at altitude, a service ceiling of 55,000 feet and can carry a wide range of bombs and missiles.

"Due to its interoperability, modularity and growth potential, the multi-role weapon system, Eurofighter, is today, and will remain in future, the backbone of the German Air Force's combat aircraft fleet, particularly in light of the new orientation of our armed forces," said German air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Lt. Karl Muellner.

The German air force has ordered 143 Eurofighters. Spain, Britain, Saudi Arabia, Italy, Oman and Austria are either flying the planes or have ordered them.