Eurofighter Partner Company Alenia Aermacchi announced the launching a major series of flight tests to integrate the MBDA Storm Shadow missile onto Eurofighter Typhoon.
According to the aircraft maker, initial flight trials to demonstrate that the missile can be safely carried have been successfully started. The trials began on 27th November, by the Alenia Aermacchi Flight Test Centre at Decimomannu Air Base, in Sardinia, Italy, with the support of the Eurofighter Partner Companies, BAE Systems and Cassidian.
The flight test program started with flutter tests and an air data system large store interference assessment, using Instrumented Production Aircraft 2 (IPA2) updated to the phase 1 enhancement standard.
Alberto Gutierrez, chief executive officer of Eurofighter GmbH, said: “The successful start of the flight tests is good news for our programme. This is one of a number of enhancements that are coming on stream and there are many more to come.
"Storm Shadow is a major step forward significantly increasing the air-to-ground capabilities of the Eurofighter Typhoon.”
As announced, the new weapons systems will add the capability to strike in day or night in all-weather conditions, well-defended infrastructure targets such as port facilities, control centers, bunkers, missile sites, airfields and bridges that would otherwise require several aircraft and missions. This is a new addition to the Eurofighter Typhoon’s simultaneous multi-/swing-role capabilities,
Powered by a turbo-jet engine, with a range in excess of 250 km, the Storm Shadow missile weighs approximately 1.300kg and is just over 5 meters long. It will be available to operators from 2015 when the Eurofighter Typhoon Phase 2 Enhancements become operational.
