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New Typhoons fly into RAF base |
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Wednesday, 22 October 2008 |
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RAF Coningsby has received its first second generation Typhoons.
The first second generation Eurofighter Typhoons, which were delivered to the Royal Air Force (RAF) earlier this month, have arrived at the Coningsby air base.
The two Tranche 2 aircraft are the first of 91 new Typhoons that the Britain's ministry of defence ordered four years ago.
Delivered on time and to cost from BAE Systems' Lancashire factory, they will soon begin flight trials at the Lincolnshire air base and are expected to join front-line fighter squadrons at the beginning of 2009.
Quentin Davies, minister for defence equipment and support, said that Typhoon is delivering "world-class capability" to the RAF.
He described the release of the second of the two planes as an "important milestone" in delivering to the RAF "an aircraft with more powerful computer systems and the ability to carry heavier weapons - the next generation of Typhoon".
In total, Tranche 2 - the second of three developmental stages - consists of 251 aircraft for air forces in Germany, Italy, Spain and the UK. |
