Eurofighter Typhoon IPA1

IPA1 is a two-seater built by BAE Systems at Warton that first flew on 15 April 2002 with Keith Hartley at the controls, and was the first series-built Typhoon. A refuelling probe, flight test instrumentation and a specific paint scheme were fitted later, and the aircraft was dedicated to testing the Defensive Aids Sub System. On 29 June 2006 it made the first Paveway II release, and Paveway IV drop trials were flown in June 2009. From early 2011 it carried out release trials with Meteor missile prototypes on the Aberporth range, and the first test firings followed in late 2012. Like the rest of the IPA fleet, IPA1 is owned by the NATO EF 2000 and Tornado Development, Production and Logistics Management Agency. It was built to Tranche 1 standard, and unlike most of its fleet mates its avionics were not raised to Tranche 2 standard.