Eurofighter Typhoons of the Royal Air Force (RAF) will be on high alert during the Olympic Games in order to secure the air space over London. Prior to the start of this international event which lasts from 27th July to 12th August, the RAF conducted extenstive training.During the earlier training, Air Commodore Gary Waterfall, Deputy Air Component Commander of the RAF said: “Whilst there is no specific threat to the Games, we have to be ready for whatever occurs and play our part in what will be a safe and secure Olympics for all to enjoy.”

Eurofighter CEO, Enzo Casolini, commented: “Eurofighter Typhoon has always offered unparalled air-to-air capabilities offering deterence to all  kinds of threats. Now this swing-role aircraft can highlight once again its outstanding operational performance just as the athletes will prove their elite sporting performance during the Olympics”.

The Air Security Plan for the Olympic Games builds on the RAF’s existing defence of UK air space which requires Eurofighter Typhoons to be on Quick Reaction Alert (QRA) duty 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. During the Games, Eurofighter Typhoon will be on rotation from the air forces’ six Typhoon squadrons with additional assets holding QRA from RAF Northolt, Middlesex.

Eurofighter Typhoon has been regularly involved in large event security since its first operational mission undertaken by the Italian Air Force defending the airspace over Turin during the 2006 Winter Olympics. Since this time, the aircraft has supported events such as the Euro 2008 Football Championship in Austria and Switzerland and annually protecting the skies over the World Economic Forum in Davos.

EADS press release