# Typhoon (DD-148)

> The Eurofighter Typhoon is a twin-engine multirole fighter built by a consortium of Airbus, BAE Systems and Leonardo. It first flew in 1994 and entered service in 2003. It uses a canard-delta layout, with small foreplanes (canards) ahead of a delta wing. The design is aerodynamically unstable, and a digital fly-by-wire system keeps it under control, which gives the aircraft high agility. It's flown by Germany, the UK, Italy, Spain and Austria, and also by Saudi Arabia, Oman, Kuwait and Qatar. The footage shows Typhoons in flight and on the ground, with the presenter.

- Department: Military (also Tech)
- First published: 2023-12-28
- Last updated: 2023-12-28
- Permalink: https://detailenjoyer.com/case/typhoon/
- Author: Marcus Easterling (DetailEnjoyer), The Detail Department

## On the timeline

- **1994**: The Eurofighter Typhoon first flies
- **2003**: The Typhoon enters service

Full timeline: https://detailenjoyer.com/timeline/?case=typhoon

## Quick facts

- **DD-148-F01**: It's built by Airbus, BAE Systems and Leonardo. _(Write-up · Exhibit A (Consortium))_
- **DD-148-F02**: It first flew in 1994. _(Write-up · Exhibit B (1994))_

## Write-up

The Eurofighter Typhoon is built to be unstable on purpose. Its canards and delta wing are kept in check by computer.

1. **Consortium**: It's built by Airbus, BAE Systems and Leonardo.
2. **1994**: It first flew in 1994.
3. **2003**: It entered service in 2003.
4. **Canard-delta**: Canards sit ahead of a delta wing.
5. **Fly-by-wire**: Computers keep the unstable design under control.

## Related case files

- [Blackbird (DD-117)](https://detailenjoyer.com/case/blackbird/): I linked another famous jet
- [Destroyer (DD-147)](https://detailenjoyer.com/case/destroyer/): I linked another modern NATO platform
- [King Tiger (DD-146)](https://detailenjoyer.com/case/king-tiger/): I linked a much later European war machine

## Reel vs. record

- **Note**: 'Used by several European countries': it's also flown by Saudi Arabia, Oman, Kuwait and Qatar.

## Video: Typhoon: The Eurofighter Typhoon Is Built to Be Unstable on Purpose

- Duration: 17.1 s · Published: 2023-12-28
- File: https://detailenjoyer.com/assets/videos/C1bJ6KINIv1.mp4

### Transcript

The Eurofighter Typhoon, a multi-role fighter jet used by several European countries, has a unique design feature called the Canard Delta configuration. DID YOU KNOW? This design, with both Delta wings and Canard fore planes, provides exceptional agility and maneuverability, making it highly effective in air-to-air combat situations. NOW YOU KNOW!

## Questions & answers

**Q: Who builds the Typhoon?**  
A: A European consortium. _(Source: Write-up · Exhibit A (Consortium) · Wikipedia: Eurofighter Typhoon)_

**Q: When did it first fly?**  
A: Service began in 2003. _(Source: Write-up · Exhibit B (1994) · Wikipedia: Eurofighter Typhoon)_

**Q: What are canards?**  
A: Paired with a delta wing. _(Source: Write-up · Exhibit C (2003) · Wikipedia: Eurofighter Typhoon)_

**Q: What keeps the design controllable?**  
A: It's unstable by design. _(Source: Write-up · Exhibit D (Canard-delta) · Wikipedia: Eurofighter Typhoon; Wikipedia: Canard (aeronautics))_

**Q: Which non-European country flies it?**  
A: Also Oman, Kuwait and Qatar. _(Source: Write-up · Exhibit E (Fly-by-wire) · Wikipedia: Eurofighter Typhoon)_

## Sources

- [Wikipedia: Eurofighter Typhoon](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eurofighter_Typhoon)
- [Wikipedia: Canard (aeronautics)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canard_(aeronautics))

## Cite this case file

Easterling, Marcus. "Typhoon." The Detail Department (DetailEnjoyer), case file DD-148, last updated Dec 28, 2023. https://detailenjoyer.com/case/typhoon/