How fast does the Eurofighter Typhoon fly?

A fighter's speed changes with altitude because dense low-altitude air slows and heats the airframe. The Eurofighter consortium quotes Mach 2.0 as the maximum speed at high altitude, equivalent to about 2,125 km/h above 11,000 m, and 1,390 km/h (750 kn) at sea level. The latter is the limiting indicated airspeed: what prevents going faster isn't thrust but the aircraft's structural and thermal limits.

In real operations the jet rarely flies that fast. Afterburner use on the two Eurojet EJ200 engines multiplies fuel consumption, so most missions are flown between Mach 0.8 and 0.9, with brief supersonic bursts during an interception.

What sets the Typhoon apart from most fighters of its generation is supercruise, the ability to sustain supersonic flight without afterburner. Carrying air-to-air weapons, the aircraft can hold around Mach 1.5 dry, which reduces its infrared signature and saves fuel to reach the patrol area sooner or to get home after combat.

Acceleration is another of its strengths. According to the manufacturer, from brakes release the Typhoon reaches 10,700 m (35,000 ft) and Mach 1.5 in under two and a half minutes, with a thrust-to-weight ratio above 1 in a lightweight configuration.

In quick reaction alert (QRA) duty, flown daily in the UK, Germany, Italy and Spain, that combination of acceleration, climb rate and supercruise matters more than the top speed figure: it lets a jet scramble from base and close on a suspect aircraft hundreds of kilometres away within minutes. The Mach 2 top speed is kept in reserve for pursuits or for launching long-range missiles with extra energy.