ASTEST pilot Peter Weber said during recent celebrations to mark the 20th anniversary of his first flight in the jet, "Eurofighter is an amazing story". This special souvenir publication, timed to coincide with the 20th anniversary of the Eurofighters first flight — although if you include the Experimental Aircraft Programme (EAP) technology demonstrator it's closer to a 30th birthday — aims to tell that amazing story, with more detail than has ever been attempted before. One wonders if any aircraft has ever been developed under such public scrutiny. This unique military project, forged from the political will of European nations (and, of course, former enemies) to work together on common defence, has also had to come through the choppy waters of national and international economic constraints and priorities. Its position at the forefront of European defence in the second decade of the 21st century will be a surprise to many who doubted it could last the course. In a bid to provide more valuefor money to British, German, Italian and Spanish taxpayers, the fourth generation jet has transitioned from air defence to multi-role. Industry has transformed Eurofighter by consistent and relentless software updates, Dropsand Phased Enhancements. At the same time there has been continual co-ordination of effort between the four Eurofighter Partner Companies(EPCs)and the six — soon to be seven — air forces operating it.
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