HALLBERGMOOS, Germany and GRAZ, Austria, June 30 /PRNewswire/ --     As of 01 July, Eurofighter Typhoon will take over the
protection of Austrian airspace under the leadership of the Joint Armed
Forces Command, Graz, and the Air Surveillance Command, Wals, of the Austrian
military.

The Republic of Austria became the first export customer for
Eurofighter Typhoon following selection of the type in 2003. The Austrian Air
Force will receive a total of 15 Eurofighter Typhoon aircraft up to 2009, all
of which will be stationed with the Air Surveillance squadron at Zeltweg,
Steiermark.

The first of the 15 aircraft was accepted into the squadron on
12 July. In just eleven months since then, fully armed Eurofighter Typhoons
have been patrolling the skies over the Austrian host stadiums during the
Euro2008 football championships, securing the airspace together with other
aircraft types and ground-based support, therefore guaranteeing security at
the venues.

Aloysius Rauen, CEO Eurofighter GmbH, commented: "The fact
that Austrian Eurofighter Typhoons have, after an internationally comparably
short preparation time, reached the stage where they are ready to take on
their mission spectrum, speaks volumes for the training and dedication of the
air and ground crews assigned to the weapon system. This achievement deserves
full recognition and I would like to therefore congratulate the Austrian Air
Force.

"At the same time, this underlines the platform flexibility of our weapon
system. Eurofighter Typhoon was developed to be able to take on a range of
missions for the lowest operational costs. Clear investment in
infrastructure, technology and above all personnel, aligned with an
intelligent logistics support concept, is what has made the swift transition
to a mission ready status in Austria possible.

"Today, as Eurofighter Typhoon takes on the responsibility for
airspace protection over Austria together with other systems, it is a reason
for the consortium and partner companies to be more than satisfied."

Since the start of June, Fighter Wing 74 of the German Air
Force has placed Eurofighter Typhoon on NATO Quick Reaction Alert duties for
Southern Germany, from their Main Operating Base in Neuburg/Donau. Italy and
the United Kingdom have had Eurofighter Typhoon aircraft assigned to QRA
operations since 2005 and 2007 respectively. In addition, XI Squadron of the
Royal Air Force has, over May and June this year, participated in Exercise
Green Flag in the United States, resulting in the declaration that
Eurofighter Typhoon is, following the integration of the Litening III laser
designator pod, mission ready for multi-role air-to-surface operations. Two
sorties per day with the release of up to six laser-guided Enhanced Paveway
II bombs per aircraft has proven Eurofighter Typhoon's swing-role capability.

Since Entry-into-Service in Spring 2004, 147 Eurofighter
Typhoon aircraft have been delivered to ten units across five Air Forces. 707
weapon systems have been ordered by six nations following the 72 on order for
the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, with deliveries due to begin in 2009. More than
47,000 flying hours have been amassed between the Air Forces and the Test and
Evalution fleet (end of June 2008).

Eurofighter Typhoon is the world's most advanced new generation
swing-role combat aircraft available on the market and has been ordered by
six nations (Germany, Italy, Spain, United Kingdom, Austria and the Kingdom
of Saudi Arabia). With 707 aircraft under contract, it is Europe's largest
military collaborative programme and delivers leading-edge technology,
strengthening Europe's aerospace industry in the global competition. More
than 100,000 jobs in 400 companies are secured by the programme. Eurofighter
Jagdflugzeug GmbH manages the programme on behalf of the Eurofighter Partner
Companies Alenia Finmeccanica, BAE Systems, EADS CASA and EADS Deutschland,
Europe's foremost aerospace companies with a total turnover of EUR60.7
billion (2006).

High Resolution images of the Eurofighter Typhoon can be downloaded from
our web site. Hard Copy images are available on request.

http://www.eurofighter.com/medialibrary

Blog: http://www.eurofighter.com/po_bl.asp

For more information:
    Wolfdietrich Hoeveler
    Vice President Communication
    Eurofighter GmbH
    +49-811-801-555 (Office)
    +49-172-832-9751(Mobile)
    wolfdietrich.hoeveler@eurofighter.com

    Phillip Lee
    External Communications
    Eurofighter GmbH
    +49-811-801-587
    phillip.lee@eurofighter.com