Timeline of The Eurofighter Typhoon - 1990s

1990s

• 1990
  • EuroRADAR formed for development of ECR-90 (CAPTOR) radar (right).
• 1991
  • 1 May - Last flight of EAP demonstrator.
• 1992
  • EuroDASS formed for development of Defensive Aids Sub System (DASS.) Initially only UK and Italy participate. When Eurofighter enters service only RAF aircraft will exploit all capabilities of DASS.
  • July - Germany announces intention to withdraw from the DASS element. Negotiations begin to reduce costs. As a single engine aircraft is ruled out Germany decides to fit cheaper systems, e.g., F/A-18's APG-65 in place of ECR-90, and delay its service entry by two years. Germany eventually participates in all systems.
  • December - Renamed Eurofighter 2000.
• 1994
  • 27 March - Maiden flight of first development aircraft, DA1 from DASA at Manching with RB199 engines.
  • 6 April - Maiden flight of second development aircraft, DA2 from BAe Warton. DA2 also flew with RB199s.
• 1995
  • 4 June - Maiden flight of Italian DA3, the first with EJ200 engines.
• 1996
  • 31 August - Spanish DA6 becomes the first two-seater to fly.
• 1997
  • 27 January - First flight of DA7 from Turin.
  • 24 February - Maiden flight of German DA5, first aircraft to be fitted with ECR-90.
  • 14 March - Maiden flight of UK's DA4, the second two-seater and last of the seven development aircraft.
• 1998
  • January - First aerial refuelling trials, involving DA2 and an RAF VC10 tanker.
  • 30 January - NETMA and Eurofighter GmbH sign production and support contracts for 620 aircraft.
  • September - Typhoon name adopted, announced as strictly for export contracts. There is some controversy as the last aircraft to bear the name was the Hawker Typhoon, a World War II aircraft.
  • 18 December - Tranche 1 contract signed.
• 1999
  • Eurofighter International established as single contracting/management company to handle all export sales.