Ever since I acquired that Eurofighter combat simulator game back in the 1990s, I have been truly fascinated by this aircraft. Starting as a European multinational project for a new fighter aircraft years before that, it faced many challenges before the first production examples would roll off the assembly lines. And despite the project would encounter some political headwind at times, it did result in a very capable swing-role 4.5 generation platform that forms the backbone of five European air forces, and also serves several air arms in the Middle East.

In this article that will be updated frequently, the focus lies on the German Air Force Eurofighters. While some Defence Ministers tried to cut back the programme significantly in the past, the Luftwaffe is now about to get the first examples of Tranche 4, and another follow-up order was recently approved by the Bundestag.

Below are links to the five different parts of this extensive feature:

• Part 1 - the early days from drawing board to first mass assembly
• Part 2 - the aircraft's various systems and weapons
• Part 3 - the acquisition by the German armed forces in various tranches as well as the phase enhancement updates
• Part 4 - a rundown of all German units that operate the Eurofighter
• Part 5 - a complete list of each individual aircraft, where possible including an image of these (spot a missing one that you have available? Please contact me)

My admiration for the Eurofighter might make me a bit biased, and of course I am aware that a few aspects does influence its performance (yes, the radar saga is an endless one indeed). Still, with this changing geopolitical situation, this European product deserves more credit than it usually gets, in my opinion. It has improved way beyond that computer game I once played. Therefore, I hope you will enjoy this publication series! ■