Eurofighter identifies 'non-conformance' issue with Typhoon assembly

[Zarvan]

Eurofighter has discovered a build issue on the Typhoons it has delivered to date related to the holes drilled for four of the bolts that connect the fins to the rear fuselages. The consortium does not consider the issue to be safety-critical, and it should not affect the operational lifespan of the jet. Source: IHS/Patrick Allen
Customers of the Eurofighter Typhoon combat aircraft have been notified of a build issue with the jet that relates to how the tail is fitted to the fuselage, a consortium spokesperson confirmed to IHS Jane's on 13 October.

The confirmation that a "manufacturing non-conformance" has been identified during assembly came in response to a report in the German media that the country's government has suspended further deliveries as a consequence of the issue.

"Today [it was] confirmed that a manufacturing non-conformance has been identified during the assembly of the fin to the rear fuselage of the aircraft manufactured to date. The topic is related to the holes drilled for four of the bolts that connect the fins to the rear fuselages," the spokesperson said in a statement, adding: "The non-conformance does not affect flight safety of the aircraft delivered to the customers. As a consequence, there are no operational or life-time limitations to the Eurofighter Typhoon."

While the spokesperson did not directly address the report in the Süddeutsche Zeitung newspaper that the German Ministry of Defence had put a hold on any further deliveries for the time being, he did note that "a way forward to deliver further aircraft is in discussion with the customers who have already been notified".

To date, 444 of 599 Typhoons committed to by Austria, Germany, Italy, Kuwait, Oman, Saudi Arabia, Spain, and the United Kingdom have been delivered.

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Eurofighter identifies 'non-conformance' issue with Typhoon assembly - IHS Jane's 360